Rating Rationale
July 24, 2023 | Mumbai
Bharti Enterprises Limited
Ratings Reaffirmed
 
Rating Action
Rs.1000 Crore Non Convertible DebenturesCRISIL AA/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Rs.3000 Crore Commercial PaperCRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
Note: None of the Directors on CRISIL Ratings Limited’s Board are members of rating committee and thus do not participate in discussion or assignment of any ratings. The Board of Directors also does not discuss any ratings at its meetings.
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to Annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities

Detailed Rationale

CRISIL Ratings has reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+’ ratings on the non-convertible debentures and the commercial paper programme of Bharti Enterprises Ltd (BEL).

 

BEL’s rating continues to factor in strong support from the Bharti group including BEL’s parent, Bharti Enterprises (Holding) Pvt Ltd (BEHPL). Moreover, company has robust financial flexibility, driven by the strong reputation of the promoters. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to market-related systemic risks.

 

The company holds equity stakes in Del Monte Foods Pvt Ltd, Airtel Payments Bank Ltd and ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd. It also holds investments in Bharti Realty Ltd (BRL) and Bharti Overseas Pvt Ltd.

 

BEHPL holds 50.56% in Bharti Telecom Ltd (BTL; rated ‘CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+’) as on date. The direct holding of BTL in Bharti Airtel Ltd (BAL; rated 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+') is worth around Rs 1.94 lakh crore as on July 19, 2023. BTL remains the largest shareholder in BAL, which has a healthy business as well as financial risk profiles being supported by strong market position in the Indian telecom industry and diversified operations in the non-mobile segments in India and mobility and other businesses in Africa. The promoter shareholding in BAL is entirely unencumbered.

 

BEHPL, BEL and BTL together have gross debt of about Rs 17,825 crore as on July 19, 2023, signifying strong cover, which is expected to be sustained throughout the tenure of the rated debt. Any material rise in combined net debt of these three entities would remain key monitorable.

 

Besides, Bharti General Ventures Pvt Ltd (BGVPL) has recently got merged with BEL. The consolidation has resulted to a simplified holding structure and improved financial flexibilities of BEL. This is because, BEL now have access to the equity stake in ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. Ltd post-merger.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL Ratings has followed the holding company approach for analysing the credit risk profile of BEL. The ratings factor in the strong operational and financial support BEL receives from its parent, BEHPL. Net debt of BEL, BTL and BEHPL has been combined for calculating the market value to debt cover.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description

Strengths:

Strong support from the parent: The company benefits from the operational and financial support received from BEHPL. BEHPL/ Bharti Group should continue to hold a 100% stake in, and complete management control over, BEL throughout the tenor of the rated debt. The Bharti group is likely to extend managerial as well as need-based and timely financial support to BEL.

 

Robust financial flexibility: Financial flexibility is driven by the healthy reputation of the promoters. The Bharti group has a well-established management track record. BEHPL, BEL and BTL together have gross debt of about Rs 17,825 crore as on July 19, 2023, signifying strong cover. It is expected that strong cover will continue to be maintained on a sustained basis considering combined net debt of BTL, BEHPL and BEL throughout the tenure of the rated debt.

 

Weakness:

Exposure to market risks: Financial flexibility, in terms of the cover available, will likely depend upon the share price of BAL. Any increase in systemic risks and a sharp decline in the share price are rating sensitivity factors.

Liquidity: Strong

The company has healthy financial flexibility because of the strong promoter, BEHPL. Given its status as a holding company, BEL is likely to remain dependent upon the monetisation of its investments, refinancing or fund infusion by the promoter group. It does not have any capital expenditure or significant working capital requirement.

Outlook: Stable

BEL will continue to benefit from the strong financial flexibility it derives from the Bharti group and strong debt cover for BTL, BEHPL and BEL combined.

Rating Sensitivity factors

Upward factors

  • Upgrade in the rating on BTL by 1 notch
  • Substantial and sustained expansion in debt cover either due to low borrowings or increase in market value

Downward factors

  • Downgrade in the rating on BTL by 1 or more notches
  • Any substantial fall in the market capitalisation of BAL leading to a sustained decline in the cover

About the Company

BEL, promoted by BEHPL, is a key holding company of the Bharti group, which has interests in diverse businesses.

About BEHPL

BEHPL, promoted by the Bharti Mittal family, is a key holding company of the Bharti group, which has interests in diverse businesses, such as telecom and financial services.

 

About BTL

Jointly promoted by the Bharti group and Singtel, BTL is a key shareholder in BAL. BEHPL and the Singtel group hold 50.56% and 49.44%, respectively, in BTL currently.

 

About the BAL

Headquartered in India, BAL is a global communications solutions provider with ~51.8 crore customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa as on March 31, 2023. The company ranks among the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is the largest integrated communications solutions provider in India and the second-largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel's retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloud-based communication. The company had 33.5 crore mobile subscribers in India and ~14 crore in Africa as on March 31, 2023.

Key Financial Indicators

As on / for the period ended March 31   2023* 2022
Revenue Rs crore 42 13
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore -190 -138
PAT margin % -452.4 -1061.5
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 3.9 -10.3
Interest coverage Times NM NM

NM: Not meaningful as operating profit is negative

*Provisional

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments and are included (where applicable) in the 'Annexure - Details of Instrument' in this Rating Rationale.

CRISIL Ratings will disclose complexity level for all securities - including those that are yet to be placed - based on available information. The complexity level for instruments may be updated, where required, in the rating rationale published subsequent to the issuance of the instrument when details on such features are available.

For more details on the CRISIL Ratings` complexity levels please visit www.crisilratings.com. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.

Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)

ISIN Name of instrument Date of
allotment
Coupon
rate (%)
Maturity
date
Issue size
(Rs crore)
Complexity 
levels
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Non-Convertible debentures* NA NA NA 1,000 Simple CRISIL AA/Stable
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 3,000 Simple CRISIL A1+

*Yet to be placed

Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2023 (History) 2022  2021  2020  Start of 2020
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper ST 3000.0 CRISIL A1+ 30-03-23 CRISIL A1+ 22-03-22 CRISIL A1+ 02-12-21 CRISIL A1+ 26-08-20 CRISIL A1+ --
      -- 16-03-23 CRISIL A1+   -- 01-10-21 CRISIL A1+   -- --
      --   --   -- 31-03-21 CRISIL A1+   -- --
Non Convertible Debentures LT 1000.0 CRISIL AA/Stable 30-03-23 CRISIL AA/Stable   --   --   -- --
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.

  

Criteria Details
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Criteria for rating holding companies (including debt backed by pledge of shares)
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Parent Support

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