Vodafone eyes stake sale in Indus Towers

Days after Vodafone India and Idea Cellular agreed to sell their respective standalone tower businesses in India to ATC Telecom Infrastructure Ltd (American Tower) for Rs 7850 crore, British telecom major said it is open to exploring opportunities for sale of its stake in Indian mobile tower firm Indus Towers - its joint venture with Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular.

The announcement comes close on the heels of Bharti Airtel offloading 83 million shares of its subsidiary Bharti Infratel for Rs 3,325 crore to pare its debt.

If the plan fructifies, it is expected to create more value for the group. "We will explore strategic options including the full or partial sales of our 42 per cent stake in Indus Towers, which could create further value for the group. We are also deleveraging our balancesheet by over USD 8 billion," Vodafone Group Chief Executive Vittorio Colao said during an analyst and investor conference on Tuesday.

Vodafone India has a net debt of $8.2 billion. Bharti Airtels mobile tower arm Bharti Infratel and Vodafone hold 42 per cent each in Indias largest mobile tower firm Indus Towers and the rest is held by Idea Cellular. Bharti Infratel is looking to acquire partial or full stake in Indus Towers.

Meanwhile, telecom infrastructure firm ATC will continue to look at acquisition opportunities in the Indian market. "For next six months our hands are full till the time integration takes time. Second, having done this deal my focus is going to be more. But, there are no hard and fast decision because there are some portfolios which are up for sale at very attractive price. We would look at it," American Tower's EVP and President for Asia Amit Sharma said.

Colao said Vodafones interests "are aligned to the ones of Airtel and, if anything, Airtel has been patient in waiting for this deal to happen to then start the formal discussion on what to do with the stake". The Vodafone India and Idea merger agreement, according to Colao, will create opportunities on Indus Towers.

Vodafone Chief Financial Officer Nick Read said any tower sale proceeds received by Vodafone or Idea Cellular prior to closing of their merger will not affect the valuation of their deal.

"Additionally, separating Indus Towers from Vodafone India Ltd as part of the transaction crystallises the opportunity to explore strategic options to monetise some or all of this valuable asset for the Vodafone group," Read said.

About the ongoing merger dynamics with Idea Cellular, Colao said it will make the resultant entity Indias largest telecom operator with number 1 or 2 in 21 out of 22 circles in terms of market share.

"With over 2,73,000 combined GSM sites and 189,000 3G or 4G sites, we will more than match our largest competitors in the market today," Colao said.

He also said the combined entity will have 163 broadband carriers, with more than six carriers in 13 circles, which will allow it to deliver "up to 250 Mbps speeds to customers".

Colao expects synergies between the two companies will improve returns on capital from the current levels.

According to Read, the Birla group, the promoter of Idea, will have the right to purchase up to 9.5 per cent stake in the combined entity from Vodafone during this period at an equity valuation of USD 14.1 billion.

"This implies an 80 per cent premium relative to the undisturbed share price of Idea. If this right is exercised, Vodafone would receive proceeds up to USD 1.34 billion in cash depending on the forex rate at the time, and the shareholdings for both parties would equalise to approximately 35.5 per cent," Read added.

An international arbitration tribunal in February next year will begin trial on Vodafone's challenge to India using a retrospective legislation to seek Rs 22,100 crore in taxes, Vodafone Plc said on Tuesday.

with PTI inputs