We regret our being drawn into the dispute between ZEE & Invesco: Reliance

Following reports in the media regarding Invesco Developing Markets Fund and OFI Global China Fund LLC approaching ZEE MD & CEO Punit Goenka with the proposal of a possible merger of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd with certain entities owned by Reliance, Reliance has issued a statement wherein it said, “We regret our being drawn into the dispute between ZEE and Invesco. The reports in the media are not accurate.”

As reported earlier, Goenka, in a letter addressed to the ZEE Board, had informed it that in February 2021, Aroon Balani and Bhavtosh Vajpayee, representatives of Invesco, had presented the deal to him involving the merger of ZEEL and certain entities owned by a large Indian group. Goenka had not mentioned Reliance’s name in his letter, but had just referred to a ‘Strategic Group’.

Reliance, in its statement added, “In February/ March 2021, Invesco assisted Reliance in arranging discussions directly between our representatives and Mr Punit Goenka, member of the founder family and Managing Director of ZEE.”

Reliance further said that it had made a broad proposal for merger of “our media properties with ZEE at fair valuations of ZEE and all our properties. The valuations of ZEE and our properties were arrived at based on the same parameters. The proposal sought to harness the strengths of all the merging entities and would have helped to create substantial value for all, including the shareholders of ZEE.”

“Reliance always endeavours to continue with the existing management of the investee companies and reward them for their performance. Accordingly, the proposal included continuation of Mr Goenka as Managing Director and issue of ESOPs to management, including Mr Goenka,” the statement added.

Reliance further said, “However, differences arose between Mr Goenka and Invesco with respect to a requirement of the founding family for increasing their stake by subscribing to preferential warrants. The investors seemed to be of the view that the founders could always increase their stake through market purchases.”

“At Reliance, we respect all founders and have never resorted to any hostile transactions. So, we did not proceed further,” Reliance maintained.