Corporate Insolvency Proceedings Cannot Be Initiated Once Debt is Converted into Capital: NCLAT

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The observations from a two-member NCLAT bench came as it upheld an order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which on November 26, 2019, had dismissed the plea by an individual Rita Kapur seeking initiation of insolvency proceedings against Invest Care Real Estate LLP.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) on Wednesday said that insolvency proceedings cannot be triggered on the basis of debt which has been converted into capital such as equity of a company. The appellate tribunal also said that any investment cannot be "financial debt" and the provisions of Section 7 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code provide for initiation of CIRP by a financial creditor only and that too, if there is "debt" and "default".

CIRP is Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process. The observations from a two-member NCLAT bench came as it upheld an order of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), which on November 26, 2019, had dismissed the plea by an individual Rita Kapur seeking initiation of insolvency proceedings against Invest Care Real Estate LLP.

She had claimed that she was a financial creditor of the company on the basis of the investment in the firm, which had alleged defaulted her repayment and converted loans into equity. Citing Section 7 of the Code, the appellate tribunal said that it is latently and patently clear that once the 'debt' is converted into 'capital' it cannot be termed as 'financial debt' and the appellant cannot be described as 'financial creditor'.

Accordingly, the appeal is devoid of merits and the same is hereby dismissed, the NCLAT said in the order. However, the appellate tribunal also granted the appellant liberty to approach an appropriate forum for seeking reliefs for redressal of grievances.

Kapur had granted a loan of Rs 40 lakh to Invest Care Real Estate LLP, which was to repaid in four installments. According to her, she has not been paid either the principal amount or interest and her grievance is that the loan was converted into equity on March 25, 2014. This was against the terms and conditions of loan agreement dated July 9, 2013, she had submitted.

In Care Real Estate LLP, her late husband had also invested Rs 1 crore and was not repaid. She claimed to be a 'financial creditor' and moved the NCLT under Section 7 seeking to initiate insolvency proceedings against Invest Care Real Estate LLP. The plea was rejected by the NCLT.