Rating Rationale
July 05, 2019 | Mumbai
Bharti Infratel Limited
'CRISIL A1+' assigned to CP
 
Rating Action
Rs.6000 Crore Commercial Paper CRISIL A1+ (Assigned)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL A1+' rating to the commercial paper of Bharti Infratel Limited (Bharti Infratel).
 
The rating reflects the company's established market position in the Indian telecommunication (telecom) tower market, leadership position after the proposed merger with Indus Towers Ltd (Indus Towers; 'CRISIL AA+/Stable/CRISIL A1+'), and strong financial risk profile. These strengths are partially offset by consolidation in the telecom industry.
 
CRISIL believes Bharti Infratel's proposed merger with Indus Towers should benefit the business risk profile of the merged entity, which will have a pan-India presence. Financial risk profile will continue to be supported by expectation of healthy cash accrual. The merged entity's capital structure and debt protection metrics should remain comfortable, even after factoring in a possible cash payout to Vodafone Idea Ltd (Voda-Idea; 'CRISIL A+/Negative') and P5 Asia Holding Investment (Mauritius) Ltd (Providence) for their stake in Indus Towers. Any substantial intake of debt over and above the potential payouts to Voda-Idea and Providence will remain a key rating sensitivity factor. Any change in dividend policy or other capital expenditure (capex) will continue to be monitored.

Analytical Approach

CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Bharti Infratel and its subsidiary with Indus Towers to factor in the proposed merger of both these entities.

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Established market position
Bharti Infratel has a strong market position, with 40,388 towers across 11 circles and a closing tenancy ratio of 1.89 times as on March 31, 2019. The proposed merger with Indus Towers should further strengthen market position, with a combined portfolio of 163,934 towers and expanded reach (to all 22 circles). The combined entity will become the largest telecom tower company in India with more than one-third of the industry's telecom towers. The merged entity will be the largest tower company globally, outside of China. Though consolidation of the telecom service providers has constrained tenancies, Bharti Infratel's market position should sustain, backed by its healthy relationship with large telecom players that have survived the consolidation.
 
* Strong financial risk profile
Financial risk profile is strong, with healthy capital structure and comfortable debt protection metrics. Gearing of the combined entity is estimated to be healthy at below 0.3 time as on March 31, 2019. Even after considering the exercise of put option by Voda-Idea and Providence, debt protection metrics should remain comfortable, with interest coverage and net cash accrual to total debt ratios of above 10 times and 0.4 time, respectively, over the medium term. Dividend payout from the merged entity is expected to be 90-95% of net profit. Any significant deviation in dividend policy or large, debt-funded capex that may affect capital structure will remain a key rating sensitivity factor.
 
Weaknesses:
* Consolidation of the telecom industry
The Indian telecom industry has witnessed significant consolidation, with the number of mobile operators having reduced to five by the end of fiscal 2019 from 11 at the start of fiscal 2015. The top three operators accounted for around 94% of the market share as on March 31, 2019. Consolidation of the telecom service providers has led to significant decline in tenancies for the telecom tower operators. Bharti Infratel saw its tenancies reduce to 76,341 as of March 2019 from 89,263 as of March 2017 (closing tenancy ratio declined to 1.89 from 2.28 over this period).
 
Both Bharti Infratel and Indus Towers saw an increase in the credit period extended in fiscal 2019 against fiscal 2018; to 29 days from 15 days and to 76 days from 30 days, respectively. Any further and sustained impact on working capital cycle and average revenue per tenant emanating from the consolidation of the telecom operators will remain key monitorables over the medium term.
Liquidity

Liquidity is comfortable. Cash and liquid investments were Rs 4,505 crore as on March 31, 2019. Debt was Rs 22 crore. Cash accrual of the combined entity is estimated at above Rs 3,000 crore annually for fiscals 2020 and 2021. Therefore, debt repayment of the combined entity, at Rs 1,333 crore in fiscal 2020, should be comfortably met through internal accrual. Capex, estimated at Rs 3,700-4,000 crore per annum, should be funded through a prudent mix of debt and accrual. The combined entity should have cash and liquid investments above Rs 1,500 crore, and unutilised bank limit that should be sufficient to meet liquidity requirement for the outstanding commercial papers.

About the Company

Bharti Infratel provides tower and related infrastructure, and deploys, owns, and manages telecom towers and communication structures for various mobile operators. It was incorporated as an independent tower company in July 2007 to serve other telecom service providers.
 
As on March 31, 2019, Bharti Infratel operated 40,388 towers with 76,341 tenancies in 11 telecom circles, while Indus Towers operated 123,546 towers with 229,483 tenancies in 15 telecom circles. After the proposed merger, the combined entity will have a nationwide presence, with operations in all 22 telecom circles (overlapping in four circles).

Key Financial Indicators (Bharti Infratel-Standalone)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Operating revenue Rs crore 6,863 6,627
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore 2,453 2,455
PAT margin % 35.5 37.0
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.00
Interest coverage Times 86.54 102.65

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. 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)
Rating assigned
with outlook
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365 days 6000 CRISIL A1+
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Names of entities consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
Smartx Services Ltd Fully consolidated Wholly owned subsidiary of Bharti Infratel
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  6000.00  CRISIL A1+    --    --    --    --  -- 
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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