Reliance calls off ₹24,731 crore deal with Future Retail

The secured creditors of Future Retail Ltd have voted against the scheme of arrangement put forward by Reliance

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has called off a proposed transaction with Future Retail Ltd (FRL) following opposition from FRL’s secured creditors. 

In a filing with the stock exchanges, RIL said, “The Future Group companies comprising Future Retail Ltd (FRL) and other listed companies involved in the scheme have intimated the results of the voting on the scheme of arrangement by their shareholders and creditors at their respective meetings.”

“As per these results, the shareholders and unsecured creditors of FRL have voted in favour of the scheme. But the secured creditors of FRL have voted against the scheme,” the statement said.

“In view thereof, the subject scheme of arrangement cannot be implemented,” it added. 

On August 29, 2020, Reliance had intimated to the stock exchanges about a scheme of arrangement for the transfer of retail and wholesale business and the logistics and warehousing business of Future Group to Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd (RRVL), its subsidiary, and Reliance Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Ltd (RRFLL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of RRVL for ₹24,731 crore.

Amazon Inc., which had earlier invested in Future Coupons, had fiercely contested this deal and challenged it in the Supreme Court of India. It had also secured an injunction from Singapore Arbitration Tribunal.