B9 Beverages Receives Rs 8 Crore Legal Notice from HNGIL Over Glass Supply Dispute

B9 Beverages Faces Fresh Legal Challenges Over Unpaid Dues

B9 Beverages, the company behind the popular Bira 91 brand, has been issued a legal notice by Hindusthan National Glass & Industries (HNGIL) over alleged unpaid dues exceeding Rs 8 crore. The development adds to the mounting pressure on the company, which is already facing internal legal disputes involving its founder Ankur Jain and some of its investors.

According to the legal notice accessed by The Economic Times, HNGIL alleged that B9 Beverages failed to lift nearly 5.14 million customised glass bottles, leaving behind inventory that is commercially unusable and tying up substantial working capital. The glass manufacturer has claimed that B9 Beverages had approached the company for the manufacturing and supply of customised glass bottles with agreed technical specifications, branding requirements, and commercial terms.

The legal notice has reportedly been marked to B9's investors, including Peak XV Partners, Sofina, and Kirin Holdings. Suraj Mehta, reportedly, confirmed the development, stating that a legal notice had been issued to B9 Beverages in relation to "certain commercial and contractual issues." However, he declined to share further details, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

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Responding to the matter, Ankur Jain stated that his company receives legal notices from several partners due to overdue payments. He was unable to confirm the veracity of the claim at this point.

B9 Beverages has been facing financial difficulties in recent years, attributed to regulatory hurdles, licensing delays, aggressive expansion, high capital expenditure on breweries, and a corporate restructuring. Founded in 2015, the company had quickly carved out a space in India's premium beer segment and attracted backing from global investors.

Note: The table presents a comparison of the unpaid dues and customised glass bottles allegedly owed by B9 Beverages to Hindusthan National Glass & Industries.

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