Vodafone tops up $ 7.2 billion for a tough fight in India’s mobile network market

Vodafone is topping up for a massive fight in India. The mobile giant is injecting $ 7.2 billion of cash into its Indian unit in what it claims is the largestever foreign direct investment into the country. That will help the local No. 2 player, which accounts for 11 percent of its parent’s revenue, compete. It also suggests an IPO of the business is off the table for now.

The amount is more than twice what Vodafone might have hoped to raise in an IPO and half the pre- deal value of the entire business. Vodafone India generated about $ 1 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ( EBITDA) in the first six months of 2016. Let’s assume it can keep up that pace for the rest of the year. On the same forward enterprise value multiple as rival Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India would be worth $ 13 billion before the cash infusion.

In reality, though, Vodafone may struggle to maintain its current momentum. New entrant Reliance Jio, backed by India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, is offering its new superfast network free to customers until the end of the year. Ambani has also pledged to never charge for calls. That has led to customers queuing around the block.

Expensive spectrum is another imminent challenge. At the reserve prices, a mega auction of airwaves set for October could raise a staggering $ 80 billion- plus for New Delhi. The mooted proceeds are three times the market value of the top three listed telecom operators. Barclays estimates that it would cost Vodafone $ 7 billion to ensure that its current share of the airwaves match that of peers when compared to its customer base.

With so many headwinds, the India unit would have struggled without support. Vodafone India’s revenue is growing in low single digits. Net debt was already over 6 times EBITDA at the end of March. The alternative was a rapid decline. Shares of local rival Idea Cellular have almost halved this year, and its parent has indicated it is in no hurry to support the business. Vodafone has made a tough call.