RCOM signs binding agreement with Brookfield Infrastructure

Reliance Communications (RCOM) has announced the signing of binding agreements with Brookfield Infrastructure in relation to the acquisition of RCOM’s nationwide tower assets by affiliates of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and its institutional partners.

RCOM will receive an upfront cash payment of Rs 11,000 crore ($1.6 billion) on completion of the transaction.

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. 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 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.

RCOM’s telecom towers will be demerged into a separate new company that will be 100% owned and independently managed by Brookfield Infrastructure, thereby creating the second largest independent and operator-neutral Towers company in India.

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.

RCOM 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.

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 and JSA Law are acting as legal advisers to RCOM for the transaction.