Reliance Communications Ltd announced the signing of binding agreements with Brookfield Infrastructure for the sale of nationwide tower assets to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners LP and its institutional partners.
RCOM will receive an upfront cash payment of Rs. 11,000 crore (US$ 1.6 billion).
RCOM will also receive Class B non-voting shares in the new Tower company, providing 49% future economic upside in the towers business, based on certain conditions. However, the tower company will be 100% owned and independently managed by Brookfield Infrastructure, the company said.
RCOM expects significant future value creation from the B Class shares, based on growth in tenancies arising from increasing 4G rollout by all telecom operators and fast accelerating data consumption, the company added.
B Class shares usually carry no voting rights, but are eligible to get dividends.
RCOM said it will enjoy certain information and other rights, but will not be involved directly or indirectly in the management and operations of the new company.
The Anil Ambani flagship will continue to hold 50% stake in the wireless business combination with Aircel and the 49% future economic upside in the towers business, and will monetise these valuable assets at an appropriate time in the future to further substantially reduce its overall debt, it added.
The new tower company will be the second largest independent and operator-neutral tower provider in India.
“The transaction will represent the largest ever investment by any overseas financial investor in the infrastructure sector in India, and is a strong reflection of the confidence of the international investment community in the long term growth potential of the Indian economy,” the Anil Ambani group firm said.
RCOM and Reliance Jio will continue as major long term tenants of the new Tower company, along with other existing third party telecom operators.
RCOM will utilize the upfront cash payment of Rs. 11,000 crore (US$ 1.6 billion) solely to reduce its debt.
The already announced combination of RCOM’s wireless business with Aircel, and the monetization of the tower business, will together reduce RCOM’s overall debt by Rs. 31,000 crore (US$ 4.6 billion), or nearly 70% of existing debt, the company said.
The implementation of the spectrum trading and sharing arrangements with Reliance Jio to secure a nationwide 4G footprint with the deepest penetration and the most efficient 850 MHz band spectrum; the merger of the Indian telecom business of Sistema Shyam Telecom Ltd.; the combination of the wireless business with Aircel to derive operational and revenue synergies and achieve further industry consolidation; and the monetisation of the towers business in this transaction with Brookfield Infrastructure, are all important milestones in RCOM’s deleveraging and asset light strategy for future growth.
The transaction is subject to applicable approvals, including inter alia, shareholder and regulatory approvals, lenders’ consents, etc. Ambit, SBI Capital Markets and UBS Securities India are acting as financial advisers and Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and JSA Law are acting as legal advisers to RCOM for the transaction.