Reliance Jio will take over mobile biz assets of RCom

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani on Thursday stepped in to bail out younger brother Anil Ambani's debt- ridden Reliance Communications (RCom) by acquiring the firm’s spectrum, tower, optical fiber network and other wireless assets. While the two firms did not disclose the value of the deal, banking sources pegged the transaction value at Rs 24,00025,000 crore, reports the PTI.

The announcement comes just two days after Reliance Communications - promoted by Anil Ambani - disclosed a new deal with lenders under which nearly Rs 40,000 crore will be raised via a sale of assets, averting an imminent takeover by the 35 local and foreign banks. The mega deal also coincides with the 85th birth anniversary of Reliance founder Dhirubhai Ambani. The deal will bring an immediate relief to RCom, which is reeling under Rs 45,000 crore debt, and the company hopes to use the entire proceeds to pare its debt. "Reliance Communications Limited today announced it has signed definitive binding agreements with Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJio) for sale of wireless spectrum, tower, fiber and Media Convergence Node (MCN) assets," RCom said in a statement.

A statement by Jio -- which has 160 million customers just over a year into 4G operations -- said these assets are strategic in nature and are expected to contribute significantly to its large scale roll out of wireless and fiberto-home and enterprise services. RCom said the deal packs in 122.4 MHz of 4G Spectrum in the 800 / 900 /1800/2100 MHz bands, over 43,000 towers, 1,78,000 kilometres of fiber and 248 media convergence nodes. The transaction, subject to approval from lenders and other authorities, is expected to be completed in a phased manner between January and March 2018. "The RJio deal consideration comprises primarily of cash payment and includes transfer of deferred spectrum instalments payable to the Department of Telecommunication (DoT). The company will utilise the proceeds of the monetisation of this cash deal solely for pre-payment of debt to its lenders," RCom said. Reliance Jio will acquire all the assets without any previous liabilities attached to them. "The acquisition is subject to receipt of requisite approvals from Governmental and regulatory authorities, consents from all lenders, release of all encumbrances on the said assets and other conditions precedent.

The consideration is payable at completion and is subject to adjustments as specified in the agreement," Jio said. It further said the process to acquire assets of RCom is being supervised by an independent group of "distinguished industry experts" and that it emerged as the successful bidder in the two-stage bidding process. "An asset monetisation process for RCom assets was mandated by the lenders of RCom, who appointed SBI Capital Markets Limited to run the process," the Jio release said. The parties are bound by confidentiality obligations and will make further disclosures at the appropriate time, Jio said.

RJio is being advised by Goldman Sachs, Citigroup Global Markets, JM Financial Private Limited, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, law firms Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co and by Ernst & Young on this transaction. RCom’s revival plan has the backing of its Chinese lender – China Development Bank (CDB) – which had dragged it to the National Company Law Tribunal for defaulting on a USD 1.8 billion loan, and the sale of residual spectrum, towers and realty assets, besides a possible minority stake sale to a strategic investor. RCom was forced to close its mobile voice business a month back as it was not in a position to support its operational expenses.