Against sale of JK House to Raymond promoters, says Chairman
Ahead of Raymond's meeting to consider sale of JK House to its promoters and extended family, Chairman Gautam Singhania said his personal opinion would be to vote against the resolution. Earlier, proxy advisory firm IiAS had slammed the proposal saying Raymond's promoters were trying to buy the property at a 90% discount, which would result in a ?650 crore loss.
New Delhi, Jun 2 (PTI) Ahead of Raymonds AGM next week to consider sale of JK House to its promoters and extended family at throwaway prices, its CMD Gautam Hari Singhania today said his personal opinion would be to vote against the resolution. Last week, proxy advisory firm Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) had red-flagged the proposal saying Raymonds promoters and their extended family are trying to buy the premium property in Mumbai from the company at throwaway rates which will result in loss of over Rs 650 crore to the company and its shareholders. "...As a related party I am required to abstain from voting on this resolution. However, my personal opinion would be to vote against the resolution in interest of the shareholders and company," Raymond Chairman and Managing Director Gautam Hari Singhania said in a statement. "Raymond is committed to protect shareholders interest..In the interest of all shareholders including minority shareholders, I would like to reinstate the fact that the company is taking all appropriate measures to safeguard the interests of stakeholders," he added. Following the IiAS warning last week, Raymond stock came under huge selling pressure, but later recovered. The company said IiAS report is based on incorrect and incomplete information, and not understood in correct manner. Raymond said the tripartite agreement was entered in 2007 between the company, lessor and occupants, all of whom were related parties, to offer apartments for sale at a substantial discount to the current prevailing market prices which would cause a major loss to the company and shareholders. "Keeping this in mind, the company decided not to act on this agreement. As a result, three of the related parties to this agreement have initiated legal action against the company for implementation of this agreement," Singhania added. Singhania said the audit committee and board of directors took a considered view based on legal advice and in pursuance of best corporate governance practices and transparency, decided that the matter should be placed before shareholders after disclosing all relevant facts for considered decision making. 