A syndicate of lenders to meet Kingfisher representatives today

A syndicate of lenders to meet Kingfisher representatives todayA syndicate of lenders led by State Bank of India (SBI) will hold a meeting with executives of Kingfisher Airlines today (Wednesday) in Mumbai to discuss the Vijay Mallya-promoted debt-laden carrier's operations.

Representatives of nearly seventeen banks, which have exposure of more than Rs. 7,000 crore in advances to the struggling carrier, will meet Kingfisher executives to figure out valuations of two mortgaged properties belonging to the carrier.

Confirming the meeting, SBI Chairman Pratip Chaudhuri told reporters, "We (the lenders and Kingfisher Airlines) will meet on Wednesday."

Kingfisher Airline's net loss climbed to Rs 2,328 crore in 2011-12, more than double than net loss of Rs 1,027 crore in the previous year. As of March 31 this year, the airline had long-term borrowings of Rs 5,695 crore and short-term borrowings of Rs 2,335 crore.

The airline has not reported profit since its launch in May 2005. It has not been servicing its debt since January and not paying salaries since March this year.

The industry analyst Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) last month cast doubts on the continuation of operations of Kingfisher, saying that the carrier faces the prospect of an operational shutdown to let it to restructure and re-organise.

The struggling carrier gained huge loans from lenders by putting all of its movable assets, trademarks, credit card, and a Kingfisher House as security.

In today's meeting, the lenders may take decision to sell Kingfisher House and its Goa-based villa to get back a part of their loans.