Lenders will do everything possible to recover Kingfisher dues: SBI

MDT/PTI 12 October 2012

Bankers would do everything for recovering the maximum amount from vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher 'by all possible methods', including letting the company run again, winding up the company, sale of assets or sale of the company itself

Mumbai: State Bank of India (SBI) the lead lender to debt-ridden Kingfisher Airlines said that banks would do everything possible to recover their money, reports PTI.

"We will do whatever is appropriate in the best interest of the group of banks," SBI Managing Director, Mid-corporates, S Vishwanathan told reporters.

He said every effort would be made at recovering the maximum amount "by all possible methods" which includes letting the company run again, winding up the company, sale of assets or sale of the company itself.

When asked whether the airline, which has been on a partial lockout since the past fortnight, can fly again, Vishwanathan, quipped "that is one of the alternatives."

SBI is the largest lender to the near-bankrupt airline with an exposure of Rs1,580 crore and the interest which has not been serviced since January.

Banks, which declared Kingfisher as a non-performing asset (NPA) in January this year, gave a succour to the carrier in the face of the employee strike by agreeing to release around Rs60 crore last week from an escrow account.

The banks have, however, flatly refused the airline's request for fresh loans and asked it to come up with a revival plan by end of October and the future strategies will depend on that, Vishwanathan said today.

Last week, the aviation regulator DGCA had slapped a show-cause notice to the otherwise flamboyant liquor baron Vijay Mallya-promoted airline threatening to revoke its flying licence due to continuing strike by its employees.

Vishwanathan, who was earlier heading SBI Caps, which was preparing turnaround plan for Kingfisher, was moved back to the bank as a deputy managing director and last week he was promoted as the managing director for mid-corporates at SBI.

Mallya, who is also the promoter chairman of the liquor giants United Spirits and Unit Breweries, is desperately trying to raise funds to save Kingfisher Airlines.

Kingfisher, which was till last year the No2 airline, is down to the last slot in market share and has not posted profits since its launch in May 2005.

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