DRAFT RED HERRING PROSPECTUS
Please read Section 60B of the Companies Act, 1956
100% Book Building Issue
The Draft Red Herring Prospectus shall be updated upon filing with the RoC Dated February 4, 2008
RELIANCE INFRATEL LIMITED
(Our Company was incorporated on April 16, 2001 as Reliance Communications Rajasthan Private Limited as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. For details of changes in the name and registered office of our Company, see “History and Certain Corporate Matters” on page 82 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus.)
Registered and Corporate Office: H Block, 1st Floor, Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City, Navi Mumbai 400 710, Maharashtra.
Contact Person: Mr. Anil C. Shah, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer.
Tel: (91 22) 3038 6286; Fax: (91 22) 3037 6622; Email: [email protected]; Website: www.ritl.co.in
PUBLIC ISSUE OF 89,164,100 EQUITY SHARES OF Rs. 5 EACH OF RELIANCE INFRATEL LIMITED (THE “COMPANY” OR THE “ISSUER” OR “RITL”) FOR CASH AT A PRICE OF Rs. [y] PER EQUITY SHARE (INCLUDING A SHARE PREMIUM OF Rs. [●] PER EQUITY SHARE) AGGREGATING TO Rs. [y] MILLION (THE “ISSUE”). THE ISSUE WILL CONSTITUTE 10.05% OF THE POST ISSUE PAID UP CAPITAL OF THE COMPANY.
PRICE BAND: Rs. [y] TO Rs. [y] PER EQUITY SHARE OF FACE VALUE OF Rs. 5 EACH#
THE FLOOR PRICE IS [●] TIMES THE FACE VALUE AND THE CAP PRICE IS [●] TIMES THE FACE VALUE # A discount of Rs. [●] to the Issue Price determined pursuant to completion of the Book Building Process has been offered to Retail Individual Bidders (the “Retail Discount”).
In case of any revision to the Price Band, the Bid/Issue Period will be extended by three additional working days after such revision of the Price Band, subject to the Bid/Issue Period not exceeding 10 working days. Any revision in the Price Band and the revised Bid/Issue Period, if applicable, will be widely disseminated by notification to the National Stock Exchange of India Limited (“NSE”) and the Bombay Stock Exchange Limited (“BSE”), by issuing a press release, and also by indicating the change on the website of the Book Running Lead Managers (“BRLMs”), Co-Book Running Lead Managers (“CBRLMs”) and at the terminals of the other members of the Syndicate.
In terms of Rule 19(2)(b) of the Securities Contracts (Regulations) Rules, 1957 (“SCRR”), this being an Issue for less than 25% of the post-Issue capital, the Issue is being made through the 100% Book Building Process wherein at least 60% of the Issue shall be allocated on a proportionate basis to QIBs. 5% of the QIB Portion shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to Mutual Funds only, and the remainder of the QIB Portion shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to all QIB Bidders, including Mutual Funds, subject to valid Bids being received at or above the Issue Price. If at least 60% of the Issue cannot be allocated to QIBs, then the entire application money shall be refunded forthwith. Further, not less than 10% of the Issue shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to Non-Institutional Bidders and not less than 30% of the Issue shall be available for allocation on a proportionate basis to Retail Individual Bidders, subject to valid Bids being received at or above the Issue Price.
Payment Methods
Payment Method -1@ Payment Method -2 Retail Individual Bidders and Non-Institutional Bidders Any Category
Amount Payable per Equity Share (In Rs.) Face Value Premium Total Face Value Premium Total
On Application 1.25 [●] [●] 5.0 [●] [●]#
By Due Date for Balance Amount Payable 3.75 [●]# [●]# - - -
Total 5.0 [●]#
[●]#
5.0 [●]#
[●]#
@ Non-Residents require the approval of Reserve Bank of India (“RBI “) for subscribing to partly paid-up Equity Shares and copy of such approval should be submitted along with the Bid cum Application Form. See page xxxvi for risks associated with Payment Method – 1.
RISK IN RELATION TO THE FIRST ISSUE
This being the first public issue of Equity Shares of the Company, there has been no formal market for the Equity Shares of the Company. The face value of the Equity Shares is Rs. 5 each and the Floor Price is [•] times the face value and the Cap Price is [•] times the face value. The Issue Price (as determined by our Company in consultation with the BRLMs and the CBRLMs on the basis of assessment of market demand for the Equity Shares by way of book building) should not be taken to be indicative of the market price of the Equity Shares after the Equity Shares are listed. No assurance can be given regarding an active and/or sustained trading in the Equity Shares or regarding the price at which the Equity Shares will be traded after listing.
IPO GRADING
This Issue has been graded by [●] as [●], indicating [●]. For details, see “General Information” on page 13 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus.
GENERAL RISKS
Investments in equity and equity-related securities involve a degree of risk and investors should not invest any funds in this Issue unless they can afford to take the risk of losing their investment. Investors are advised to read the risk factors carefully before taking an investment decision in this Issue. In taking an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the Company and the Issue, including the risks involved. The Equity Shares offered in the Issue have not been recommended or approved by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (“SEBI”), nor does SEBI guarantee the accuracy or adequacy of the contents of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus. Specific attention of the investors is invited to “Risk Factors” on page xviof this Draft Red Herring Prospectus.
ISSUER’S ABSOLUTE RESPONSIBILITY
The Company, having made all reasonable inquiries, accepts responsibility for and confirms that this Draft Red Herring Prospectus contains all information with regard to the Company and the Issue, which is material in the context of the Issue, that the information contained in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus is true and correct in all material aspects and is not misleading in any material respect, that the opinions and intentions expressed herein are honestly held and that there are no other facts, the omission of which make this Draft Red Herring Prospectus as a whole or any of such information or the expression of any such opinions or intentions misleading in any material respect.
LISTING
The Equity Shares offered through this Draft Red Herring Prospectus are proposed to be listed on the NSE and the BSE. We have received an ‘in-principle’ approval from each of the NSE and the BSE for the listing of the Equity Shares pursuant to letters dated [●] and [●], respectively. For the purposes of the Issue, the Designated Stock Exchange shall be the [●].
BOOK RUNNING LEAD MANAGERS
JM Financial Consultants Private Limited 141, Maker Chambers III
Nariman Point Mumbai 400 021 Tel: (91 22) 6630 3030 Fax: (91 22) 2204 7185 Email: [email protected]
Investor Grievance ID: [email protected] Website: www.jmfinancial.in
Contact Person: Mr. Mayank Jain SEBI Registration Number: INM000010361
J.P. Morgan India Private Limited 9th Floor, Mafatlal Centre
Nariman Point Mumbai 400 021 Tel: 91 (22) 6719 8256 Fax: 91 (22) 6639 3091 Email:[email protected]
Investor Grievance ID: [email protected] Website: www.jpmipl.com
Contact Person: Mr. Rohit Ramana SEBI Registration Number: INM000002970
ABN AMRO Securities (India) Private Limited 81, Sakhar Bhavan Nariman Point Mumbai 400 021 Tel: (91 22) 6632 5535 Fax: (91 22) 6632 5541 Email: [email protected]
Investor grievance id: [email protected] Website: www.abnamroindia.com
Contact person: Mr. Girichandra Kuchangi SEBI Registration number: INM000010551
Deutsche Equities India Private Limited DB House
Hazarimal Somani Marg, Fort Mumbai 400 001 Tel: (91 22) 6658 4600 Fax: (91 22) 2200 6765 E-mail : [email protected] Investor Grievance Id: [email protected] Website: www.db.com/india Contact Person: Mr. Sameer Taimni SEBI Registration Number: INM000010833
Enam Securities Private Limited 801, Dalamal Towers Nariman Point Mumbai 400 001 Tel: (91 22) 6638 1800 Fax: (91 22) 2284 6824 E-mail: [email protected] Investor Grievance Id: [email protected] Website: www.enam.com Contact Person: Mr. Sameer Mansukhani SEBI Registration Number: INM000006856
ICICI Securities Limited ICICI Centre H. T. Parekh Marg Churchgate Mumbai 400020 Tel: (9122) 2288 2460 Fax: (91 22) 2282 6580 E-mail ID: [email protected] Investor Grievance Id: [email protected] Website: www.icicisecurities.com Contact Person: Mr. Rajiv Poddar SEBI Registration Number: INM000011179
Lehman Brothers Securities Private Limited
Ceejay House, 11th Level, Plot F, Shivsagar Estate Dr. Annie Besant Road
Worli, Mumbai 400 018 Tel: (91 22) 4037 4037 Fax: (91 22) 4037 4111 E-mail: [email protected] Investor Grievance Id: [email protected] Website:
www.lehman.com/ibd/geographic/asia/ipos_india.htm Contact Person: Mr. Indranil Ghosh SEBI Registration Number: INM000010957
Macquarie India Advisory Services Private Limited*
Level 3, Mafatlal Center Nariman Point Mumbai 400 021 Tel: (91 22) 6653 3000 Fax: (91 22) 6653 3198 Email:[email protected] Investor Grievance Id: [email protected] Website: www.macquarie.com/in Contact Person: Mr. Hari Kishan Movva SEBI Registration number: INM000010932 *name proposed to be changed to Macquarie Capital Advisers (India) Private Limited subject to regulatory approvals
UBS Securities India Private Limited 2/F Hoechst House Nariman Point Mumbai 400 021 Tel: (91 22) 2286 2062 Fax: (91 22) 2281 4676 E-mail: [email protected] Investor Grievance Id: [email protected] Website: www.ibb.ubs.com/Corporates/indianipo Contact Person: Mr. Venkat Ramakrishnan SEBI Registration Number: INM000010809
CO BOOK RUNNING LEAD MANAGERS REGISTRAR TO THE ISSUE
HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India) Private Limited
Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited 3rd Floor, Bakhtawar 229
SBI Capital Markets Limited 202, Maker Towers ‘E’
Karvy Computershare Private Limited Plot No. 17-24, Vittal Rao Nagar
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I: GENERAL...II DEFINITIONSANDABBREVIATIONS...II PRESENTATIONOFFINANCIAL,INDUSTRYANDMARKETDATA ...XIII FORWARDLOOKINGSTATEMENTS ...XV SECTION II: RISK FACTORS ... XVI
SECTION III ...1
SUMMARYOFOURBUSINESS,STRENGTHSANDSTRATEGY ...1
SUMMARYFINANCIALINFORMATION ...6
THEISSUE ...8
GENERALINFORMATION ...13
CAPITALSTRUCTURE...24
OBJECTSOFTHEISSUE ...31
BASISFORISSUEPRICE...35
STATEMENTOFGENERALTAXBENEFITS ...38
SECTION IV: ABOUT THE COMPANY...43
INDUSTRYOVERVIEW ...43
REORGANISATION ...58
OURBUSINESS...62
REGULATIONSANDPOLICIES...78
HISTORYANDCERTAINCORPORATEMATTERS...82
OURMANAGEMENT...90
OURPROMOTERSANDPROMOTERGROUP ...100
RELATEDPARTYTRANSACTIONS ...118
DIVIDENDPOLICY ...119
SECTION V: FINANCIAL INFORMATION ...120
FINANCIALSTATEMENTS ...120
MANAGEMENT’SDISCUSSIONANDANALYSISOFFINANCIALCONDITIONANDRESULTSOF OPERATION ...148
FINANCIALINDEBTEDNESS ...163
SECTION VI: LEGAL AND OTHER INFORMATION ...165
OUTSTANDINGLITIGATIONANDMATERIALDEVELOPMENTS...165
GOVERNMENTAPPROVALS ...182
OTHERREGULATORYANDSTATUTORYDISCLOSURES...184
SECTION VII: ISSUE INFORMATION ...195
TERMSOFTHEISSUE ...195
ISSUESTRUCTURE...198
ISSUEPROCEDURE ...201
RESTRICTIONSONFOREIGNOWNERSHIPOFINDIANSECURITIES...227
SECTION VIII: MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION ...228
SECTION IX: OTHER INFORMATION ...253
MATERIALCONTRACTSANDDOCUMENTSFORINSPECTION ...253
SECTION I: GENERAL DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS Term Description
“We”, “us”, “our”, the “Issuer”, the “Company”, “our Company”, “RITL”
Unless the context otherwise indicates or implies, refers to Reliance Infratel Limited
Company Related Terms
Term Description
ADAV Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Ventures Limited.
Articles/Articles of
Association Articles of Association of our Company, unless the context otherwise specifies Auditors The Joint Statutory Auditors of our Company, M/s. Chaturvedi & Shah, Chartered Accountants; and S.R. Batliboi and Co., Chartered Accountants Board/Board of Directors The Board of Directors of our Company
Demerger Scheme Refers to the scheme of arrangement sanctioned by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay pursuant to which, inter alia, the Passive Telecommunication Infrastructure assets of RCOM and RTL were transferred to our Company. For details see “Reorganisation” on page 58 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus
Directors Directors of our Company, unless otherwise specified
Existing Sites Passive Telecommunication Infrastructure Sites installed by RCOM and RTL and transferred to our Company in terms of the Demerger Scheme Master Services Agreement Master services agreement dated April 10, 2007 amongst our Company, RCOM and RTL Memorandum/
Memorandum of Association
Memorandum of Association of our Company, unless the context otherwise specifies
Merger Scheme
Refers to the scheme of amalgamation sanctioned by the High Court of Judicature at Bombay pursuant to which RNGTPL was merged with our Company
New Sites 23,000 sites to be developed by our Company in terms of the Master Services Agreement Passive Telecommunication Infrastructure/ Passive Communications Infrastructure/ Passive Infrastructure
For the definition, see “Business” on page 62 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus
Promoters Mr. Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, Reliance Communications Limited and Reliance Communications Infrastructure Limited Promoter Group
Unless the context otherwise specifies, refers to the entities enumerated under “Our Promoters and Promoter Group” on page 100 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus
Term Description
Purchaser As defined in Risk Factor No. 10
RFI Date Ready for Installation date
Registered Office/ Corporate
Office of our Company H Block, 1
st Floor, Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City, Navi Mumbai
400 710, Maharashtra
Reorganisation Refers to the Demerger Scheme and the Merger Scheme, collectively
REWT RCIL Employee Welfare Trust
RCOM Reliance Communications Limited
RCIL Reliance Communications Infrastructure Limited
RCap Reliance Capital Limited
RISL Reliable Internet Services Limited
RNGTPL Reliance Next Generation Technology Private Limited
Roll-Out Letter Letter dated January 15, 2008 issued by RCOM and RTL to our Company RTIHL Reliance Telecom Infrastructure (Cyprus) Holdings Limited
RTL Reliance Telecom Limited
RIIPL Reliance Infocomm Infrastructure Private Limited
Shared Services Agreement Shared facilities and support services agreement dated April 10, 2007 between our Company and RCOM Share Sale Agreement Share sale agreement dated July 30, 2007
Sites Existing Sites, New Sites and Proposed Sites Issue Related Terms
Term Description
ABN AMRO ABN AMRO Securities (India) Private Limited,
Allotment/Allot/Allotted Unless the context otherwise requires, the allotment of Equity Shares pursuant to the Issue
Allottee A successful Bidder to whom the Equity Shares are Allotted
Balance Amount Payable Issue Price less the amount already paid, if any, (net of Retail Discount, as applicable, to be adjusted), payable by Retail Individual Bidders and Non-Institutional Bidders choosing Payment Method-1 and for which a Call Notice shall be issued by our Company on the date of Allotment
Banker(s) to the Issue/Escrow Collection Bankers
The banks which are clearing members and registered with SEBI as Bankers to the Issue and with whom the Escrow Account will be opened, in this case being [●]
Basis of Allotment The basis on which Equity Shares will be Allotted to Bidders under the Issue and which is described under “Issue Procedure – Basis of Allotment” on page [•] of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus
Bid An indication to make an offer during the Bidding Period by a
prospective investor to subscribe to the Equity Shares of our Company at a price within the Price Band, including all revisions and modifications thereto
Bid Amount The highest value of the optional Bids indicated in the Bid cum Application Form and payable by the Bidder on submission of the Bid in the Issue
Bid/Issue Closing Date The date after which the Syndicate will not accept any Bids for the Issue, which shall be notified in an English national newspaper, a Hindi national newspaper and a Marathi newspaper with wide circulation
Term Description
which shall be notified in an English national newspaper, a Hindi national newspaper and a Marathi newspaper with wide circulation
Bid cum Application Form The form used by a Bidder to make a Bid and which will be considered as the application for Allotment for the purposes of the Red Herring Prospectus and the Prospectus
Bidder Any prospective investor who makes a Bid pursuant to the terms of the Red Herring Prospectus and the Bid cum Application Form
Bid/Issue Period The period between the Bid/Issue Opening Date and the Bid/Issue Closing Date, inclusive of both days, during which prospective Bidders can submit their Bids, including any revisions thereof
Book Building
Process/Method Book building route, as provided in Chapter XI of the SEBI Guidelines, in terms of which this Issue is being made BRLMs/Book Running Lead
Managers Book Running Lead Managers to the Issue, in this case being JM Financial Consultants Private Limited, J.P. Morgan India Private Limited, ABN AMRO Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Enam Securities Private Limited, ICICI Securities Limited, Lehman Brothers Securities Private Limited, Macquarie India Advisory Services Private Limited and UBS Securities India Private Limited
Business Day Any day on which commercial banks in Mumbai are open for business Call Notice A notice issued by our Company for payment of the Balance Amount
Payable in respect of partly paid Equity Shares allotted to Retail Individual Bidders and Non-Institutional Bidders choosing Payment Method-1
CAN/Confirmation of Allocation Note
The note or advice or intimation of allocation of Equity Shares sent to the Bidders who have been allocated Equity Shares after discovery of the Issue Price in accordance with the Book Building Process
CBRLMs/Co-Book Running
Lead Managers Co-Book Running Lead Managers to the Issue, in this case being HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India) Private Limited, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited and SBI Capital Markets Limited
CEO Chief Executive Officer
Cap Price The higher end of the Price Band, above which the Issue Price will not be finalized and above which no Bids will be accepted
Cut-Off Price Issue Price, (net of Retail Discount as applicable to be adjusted), finalised by our Company in consultation with the BRLMs and the CBRLMs. Only Retail Individual Bidders are entitled to bid at the Cut-Off Price, for a Bid Amount not exceeding Rs. 100,000. QIBs and Non-Institutional Bidders are not entitled to bid at the Cut-Off Price.
Designated Date The date on which funds are transferred from the Escrow Account to the Issue Account after the Prospectus is filed with the RoC, following which the Board of Directors shall Allot Equity Shares to successful Bidders Designated Stock Exchange [●]
Deutsche Equities Deutsche Equities India Private Limited
DP ID Depository Participant’s Identification
Draft Red Herring Prospectus
Term Description
Eligible NRIs NRIs from jurisdictions outside India where it is not unlawful to make an issue or invitation under the Issue and in relation to whom the Red Herring Prospectus constitutes an invitation to subscribe to the Equity Shares Allotted herein
Enam Enam Securities Private Limited
Equity Shares Equity shares of our Company of Rs. 5 each fully paid up unless otherwise specified in the context thereof
Escrow Account Account opened with the Escrow Collection Bank(s) for the Issue and in whose favour the Bidder will issue cheques or drafts in respect of the Bid Amount when submitting a Bid
Escrow Agreement Agreement to be entered into by our Company, the Registrar to the Issue, BRLMs, the CBRLMs, the Syndicate Members and the Escrow Collection Bank(s) for collection of the Bid Amounts and where applicable, refunds of the amounts collected to the Bidders on the terms and conditions thereof
First Bidder The Bidder whose name appears first in the Bid cum Application Form or Revision Form
Floor Price The lower end of the Price Band, at or above which the Issue Price will be finalized and below which no Bids will be accepted
HSBC Securities HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India) Private Limited
I-Sec ICICI Securities Limited
Issue The public issue of 89,164,100 Equity Shares of Rs. 5 each for cash at a price of [●] each aggregating Rs. [●] million, by our Company
Issue Account Account opened with the Bankers to the Issue to receive monies from the Escrow Account on the Designated Date
Issue Price The final price at which Equity Shares will be issued and allotted in terms of the Red Herring Prospectus. The Issue Price will be decided by our Company in consultation with the BRLMs and the CBRLMs on the Pricing Date
Issue Proceeds The gross proceeds of the Issue that are available to our Company
JM JM Financial Consultants Private Limited
JPM/J.P. Morgan J.P. Morgan India Private Limited
KMCC Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited
Lehman Lehman Brothers Securities Private Limited
Macquarie Macquarie India Advisory Services Private Limited
Margin Amount The amount paid by the Bidder at the time of submission of his/her Bid, being 10% to 100% of the Bid Amount
Monitoring Agency [●]
Mutual Fund Portion 5% of the QIB Portion or 2,674,920 Equity Shares available for allocation to Mutual Funds only, out of the QIB Portion
Mutual Funds A mutual fund registered with SEBI under the SEBI (Mutual Funds) Regulations, 1996
Net Proceeds The Issue Proceeds less the Issue expenses. For further information about use of the Issue Proceeds and the Issue expenses, see “Objects of the Issue” on page 31 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus
Non-Institutional Bidders All Bidders that are not QIBs or Retail Individual Bidders and who have Bid for Equity Shares for an amount more than Rs. 100,000 (but not including NRIs other than eligible NRIs)
Term Description
Rs. 5 each available for allocation to Non-Institutional Bidders
Pay-in Date Bid Closing Date or the last date specified in the CAN sent to Bidders, as applicable
Pay-in-Period (i) With respect to Bidders whose Margin Amount is 100% of the Bid Amount, the period commencing on the Bid/ Issue Opening Date; and extending until the Bid/ Issue Closing
Date; and
)(ii) With respect to Bidders whose Margin Amount is less than 100% of the Bid Amount, the period commencing on the Bid/ Issue Opening Date and extending until the closure of the Pay-in Date
Payment Method Either of Payment Method-1 or Payment Method-2 chosen by Retail Individual Bidders and Non-Institutional Bidders
Payment Method-1 Amount Payable on Submission of Bid cum Application Form in case of Retail Individual Bidders and Non-Institutional Bidders, is Rs. [●] per Equity Share, such that it shall not be less than 25% of the Issue Price and Balance Amount Payable shall be paid by the Due Date for Balance Amount Payable. All Non Resident Bidders availing the option of Payment Method-1 are required to submit a copy of an approval from the RBI allowing them to subscribe to the partly-paid up Equity Shares. Under Payment Method-1, out of the Amount Payable on Submission of Bid cum Application Form, Rs. 1.25 is towards face value and Rs. [●] is towards premium.
Payment Method-2 Amount Payable on Submission of Bid cum Application Form in case of Retail Individual Bidders and Non-Institutional Bidders shall be 100% of Bid less the Retail Discount as applicable and in case of QIBs is 10% of the Bid Amount with balance being payable on allocation
Price Band Price band of a minimum price (Floor Price) of Rs. [●] and the maximum price (Cap Price) of Rs. [●] and includes revisions thereof
Pricing Date The date on which our Company in consultation with the BRLMs and the CBRLMs finalizes the Issue Price
Prospectus The Prospectus to be filed with the RoC in accordance with Section 60 of the Companies Act, containing, inter alia, the Issue Price that is determined at the end of the Book Building process, the size of the Issue and certain other information
QIB Margin Amount An amount representing at least 10% of the Bid Amount
QIB Portion The portion of the Issue being at least 53,498,460 Equity Shares of Rs. 5 each required to be allocated to QIBs
Qualified Institutional Buyers or
QIBs Public financial institutions as specified in Section 4A of the Companies Act, FIIs, scheduled commercial banks, mutual funds registered with SEBI, venture capital funds registered with SEBI, state industrial development corporations, insurance companies registered with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, provident funds (subject to applicable law) with minimum corpus of Rs. 250 million and pension funds with a minimum corpus of Rs. 250 million
Term Description
Limited, having its registered office as indicated on the cover page of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus
Retail Discount The difference of Rs. [●] between the Issue Price and the differential lower price at which our Company has decided to allot the Equity Shares to Retail Individual Bidders as compared to the Issue Price.
Retail Individual Bidder(s) Individual Bidders who have bid for Equity Shares for an amount not more than Rs. 100,000 (net of Retail Discount) in any of the bidding options in the Issue (including HUFs applying through their Karta and eligible NRIs and does not include NRIs other than Eligible NRIs) Retail Portion The portion of the Issue being up to 26,749,230 Equity Shares of Rs. 5
each available for allocation to Retail Individual Bidder(s)
Revision Form The form used by the Bidders to modify the quantity of Equity Shares or the Bid Price in any of their Bid cum Application Forms or any previous Revision Form(s)
RHP or Red Herring
Prospectus The Red Herring Prospectus issued in accordance with Section 60B of the Companies Act, which does not have complete particulars of the price at which the Equity Shares are offered and the size of the Issue. The Red Herring Prospectus will be filed with the RoC at least three days before the Bid Opening Date and will become a Prospectus upon filing with the RoC after the Pricing Date
SBI Caps SBI Capital Markets Limited
Stock Exchanges BSE and NSE
Syndicate/Members of the
Syndicate The BRLMs, the CBRLMs and the Syndicate Members
Syndicate Agreement The agreement to be entered into between the Syndicate and our Company in relation to the collection of Bids in this Issue
Syndicate Members JM Financial Services Private Limited, ABN AMRO Asia Equities (India) Limited SBICAP Securities Limited and Kotak Securities Limited TRS/Transaction Registration
Slip
The slip or document issued by the Syndicate to the Bidder as proof of registration of the Bid
UBS UBS Securities India Private Limited
Underwriters The BRLMs, the CBRLMs and the Syndicate Members
Underwriting Agreement The agreement among the members of the Syndicate and our Company to be entered into on or after the Pricing Date
Conventional and General Terms/ Abbreviations
Term Description
Act or Companies Act The Companies Act, 1956 and amendments thereto.
AGM Annual General Meeting
AS Accounting Standards issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
AY Assessment Year
BIFR Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction
BSE Bombay Stock Exchange Limited
CAGR Compounded Annual Growth Rate
CDSL Central Depository Services (India) Limited
Depositories NSDL and CDSL
Term Description
DP/ Depository Participant A depository participant as defined under the Depositories Act, 1996 EBITDA Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation
ECS Electronic Clearing Service
EGM Extraordinary General Meeting
EPS Earnings Per Share i.e., profit after tax for a fiscal year divided by the weighted average outstanding number of equity shares at the end of that fiscal year
FDI Foreign Direct Investment
FEMA Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 read with rules and regulations thereunder and amendments thereto
FEMA Regulations FEMA (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident Outside India) Regulations 2000 and amendments thereto
FII(s) Foreign Institutional Investors as defined under SEBI (Foreign Institutional Investor) Regulations, 1995 and registered with SEBI under applicable laws in India
Financial / Fiscal Year/ FY Unless stated otherwise, the period of 12 months ending March 31 of that particular year
FIPB Foreign Investment Promotion Board
FVCI Foreign Venture Capital Investor registered under the SEBI (Foreign Venture Capital Investor) Regulations, 2000
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GoI/Government Government of India
HNI High Net Worth Individual
HUF Hindu Undivided Family
I.T. Act The Income Tax Act, 1961, as amended from time to time Indian GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in India
IPO Initial Public Offering
Mn / mn Million
MOU Memorandum of Understanding
NA/ n.a. Not Applicable
NAV Net Asset Value being the paid up equity share capital plus free reserves (excluding reserves created out of revaluation) less deferred expenditure not written off (including miscellaneous expenses not written off) and debit balance of profit and loss account, divided by number of issued equity shares
NCR National Capital Region
NEFT National Electronic Fund Transfer
NOC No Objection Certificate
NR Non-resident
NRE Account Non Resident External Account
NRI Non Resident Indian, being a person resident outside India, as defined under FEMA and the FEMA (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident
Term Description
OCB A company, partnership, society or other corporate body owned directly or indirectly to the extent of at least 60% by NRIs including overseas trusts, in which not less than 60% of beneficial interest is irrevocably held by NRIs directly or indirectly as defined under Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Foreign Security by a Person resident outside India) Regulations, 2000. OCBs are not allowed to invest in this Issue
p.a. Per annum
P/E Ratio Price/Earnings Ratio
PAN Permanent Account Number allotted under the Income Tax Act, 1961
PAT Profit after tax
PBT Profit before tax
PIO Person of Indian Origin
PLR Prime Lending Rate
RBI The Reserve Bank of India
RoC The Registrar of Companies, Maharashtra located at 100, Everest, Marine Drive, Mumbai 400 002
RONW Return on Net Worth
Rs. Indian Rupees
RTGS Real Time Gross Settlement
SCRA Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, as amended from time to time SCRR Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules, 1957, as amended from time to time SEBI The Securities and Exchange Board of India constituted under the SEBI Act,
1992, as amended from time to time
SEBI Act Securities and Exchange Board of India Act 1992, as amended from time to time
SEBI Guidelines SEBI (Disclosure and Investor Protection) Guidelines, 2000
SEBI Takeover Regulations Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997
Sec. Section
SIA Secretariat for Industrial Assistance
State Government The government of a state of the Union of India Stock Exchange(s) BSE and/ or NSE as the context may refer to
UIN Unique Identification Number
US / USA United States of America
US GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America USD/ US$/U.S.$ United States Dollars
VCFs Venture Capital Funds as defined and registered with SEBI under the SEBI (Venture Capital Fund) Regulations, 1996
Technical/Industry Related Terms
Term Description
3G Third generation mobile telecommunication
4G Fourth generation mobile telecommunication
ADC Access Deficit Charge
Term Description
AH Ampere Hour
ARPU Average Revenue Per Unit
AUSP Association of Unified Service Providers
BFSI Banking, Finance, Securities and Insurance
BSNL Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
BSS Business Support System
BTS Base Trans-Receiver Stations
BTSL Basic Telephone Services License
CAGR Compounded Annual Growth Rate
CAPEX Capital Expenditure
CAS Conditional Access System
CC#7 Common Channel Signaling #7
CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
Circle(s) The 22 service areas that the Indian telecommunications market has beensegregated into.
CIOU Customer Integrated Operations Unit
CLIP Calling Line Identification Presentation
CMTS Cellular Mobile Telephone Services
COAI Cellular Operators Association of India
COPC Customer Operations Performance Centre
CPCB Central Pollution Control Board
CPP Calling Party Pays
DG Diesel Generator
DoT Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology, Government of India
DTH Direct to Home
DWDM Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing
Emission Regulation National standards for effluents and emissions EPCG Scheme Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme by using
ETSI European Telecommunication Standard Institute
FMCG Fast Moving Consumer Goods
GDR Global Depository Receipts
GoI Government of India
GSK Get Started Kit
GSM Global System for Mobile Communication
HCC Handset Change Card
HFC Hybrid Fibre Co-axial
Term Description
ISO International Standard Organization
ISP Internet Service Provider
IUC Interconnect Usage Charge
LCO Local Cable Operator
LDCA Long Distance Circle Area
LoI Letter of Intent
MCN Media Convergence Nodes
MOST Mobile Operators Share Tower
MHz Mega Hertz
MPLS VPN Multi Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network
MSO Multi System Operator
MTNL Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited
NBFC Non Banking Finance Company
Net debt Long terms debt less cash and cash equivalents
NLDS National Long Distance Service
NLDO National Long Distance Operator
NNOC RCOM’s National Network Operating Centre
NTP National Telecom Policy
OSS Operation Support System
PC Personal Computer
PCO Public Call Office
PIN Personal Identification Number
PoP Point of Presence
SACFA Standing Advisory Committee on Radio Frequency Allocations
SCN Show Cause Notice
SDCA Short Distance Circle Area
SEB State Electricity Boards
SFI Scheme Serve from India Scheme
SIM Subscriber Identity Module
SMP Switch Mode Power Supply
STD Subcriber Trunk Dialing
TDSAT Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal
Standards Standard/Guidelines for Control of Noise Pollution from Stationary DieselGenerator Sets
TEMA Telecom Equipment Manufacturing Association
TRAI Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, constituted under the Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997 as amended from time to time Triple Play Service Voice, Video (Cable TV) and Data (Internet)
TTML Tata Teleservices Maharashtra Limited
UASL Unified Access Services Licenses
USP Universal Service Provider
USL Universal Service Levy
Term Description
VSAT Very Small Aperture Terminal
VSNL Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited. Now known as “Tata CommunicationsLimited”
WLL Wireless Local Loop
WPC Wireless Planning Commission
PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL, INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA Financial Data
Unless stated otherwise, the financial data in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus is derived from our restated financial statements, prepared in accordance with Indian GAAP and the SEBI Guidelines, which are included in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus and set out in the section titled “Financial Statements” beginning page 120 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus. Our current fiscal year commences on April 1 and ends on March 31. Although in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus we present our restated historical financial results for the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2007, throughout this period of time we were effectively a dormant company with no material business or assets. Pursuant to the Reorganization, we acquired the assets which constitute the core of our business. As such, the financial information presented herein for periods prior to that date will not be indicative of our results as an independent operating company. Our financial information for these years and for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 has been presented in absolute numbers. Accordingly, all information included in this Draft Red Herring extracted from our financial statements has also been presented in absolute numbers. All other financial data has been presented in millions or billions unless stated otherwise. There are significant differences between Indian GAAP, US GAAP and IFRS. We do not provide reconciliation of our financial statements to IFRS or U.S. GAAP financial statements. Our Company has not attempted to explain those differences or quantify their impact on the financial data included herein and we urge you to consult your own advisors regarding such differences and their impact on our financial data. Accordingly, the degree to which the Indian GAAP financial statements included in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus will provide meaningful information is entirely dependent on the reader’s level of familiarity with Indian accounting practices. Any reliance by persons not familiar with Indian accounting practices on the financial disclosures presented in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus should accordingly be limited.
In this Draft Red Herring Prospectus, discrepancies in any table between the total and the sum of the amounts listed are due to rounding off.
Currency of Presentation
All references to “Rupees” or “Rs.” are to Indian Rupees, the official currency of the Republic of India. All references to “US$”, “USD” or “U.S. Dollars” are to United States Dollars, the official currency of the United States of America.
Exchange Rates
This Draft Red Herring Prospectus contains translations of certain U.S. Dollar and other currency amounts into Indian Rupees that have been presented solely to comply with the requirements of Clause 6.9.7.1 of the SEBI Guidelines. These convenience translations should not be construed as a representation that those U.S. Dollar or other currency amounts could have been, or can be converted into Indian Rupees, at any particular rate, the rates stated below or at all.
Industry and Market Data
Unless stated otherwise, industry and market data used throughout this Draft Red Herring Prospectus has been obtained from market research, publicly available information and industry publications. Industry publications generally state that the information contained in those publications has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but that their accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed and their reliability is not be assured. Although industry data used in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus is reliable, it has not been independently verified by our Company, the BRLMs or the CBRLMs. Similarly, internal Company reports, while believed by us to be reliable, have not been verified by any independent sources.
The extent to which the market and industry data used in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus is meaningful depends on the reader’s familiarity with and understanding of the methodologies used in compiling such data. The information included in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus about other listed and unlisted companies is based on their respective annual reports and their respective information publicly available.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Draft Red Herring Prospectus contains certain “forward-looking statements”. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by words or phrases such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “objective”, “plan”, “project”, “shall”, “will”, “will continue”, “will pursue” or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our strategies, objectives, plans or goals are also forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that could cause actual results and property valuations to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant statement.
Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by the forward looking statements due to risks or uncertainties associated with our expectations with respect to, but not limited to, regulatory changes pertaining to the industries in India in which we have our businesses and our ability to respond to them, our ability to successfully implement our strategy, our growth and expansion, technological changes, our exposure to market risks, general economic and political conditions in India and which have an impact on our business activities or investments, the monetary and fiscal policies of India, inflation, deflation, unanticipated turbulence in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, equity prices or other rates or prices, the performance of the financial markets in India and globally, changes in domestic laws, regulations and taxes and changes in competition in our industry. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations include, among others:
• Limited operating and financial history;
• Heavy reliance on RCOM and its subsidiaries for the substantial majority of our business and otherwise;
• Risks associated with the Demerger Scheme;
• Security over our telecommunication towers in favour of RCOM’s creditors;
• Increased sharing of existing and new passive telecommunication infrastructure constructed by Indian cellular telecommunication operators and increasing competition in the passive infrastructure industry;
• Decrease in demand for telecommunication tower space;
• The monetary and interest rate policies of India, inflation, deflation, unanticipated turbulence in interest rates;
• Changes in the foreign exchange control regulations in India;
• Foreign exchange rates, equity prices or other rates or prices;
• The performance of the financial markets in India;
• General economic and business conditions in India;
• The ability to successfully implement our strategy; and
• Changes in laws and regulations that apply to our clients and suppliers.
For further discussion of factors that could cause our actual results to differ from our expectations, see “Risk Factors”, “Our Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on pages xvi, 62 and 120 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus. Neither our Company nor any of the Underwriters nor any of their respective affiliates has any obligation to update or otherwise revise any statements reflecting circumstances arising after the date hereof. In accordance with SEBI requirements our Company, the BRLMs and the CBRLMs will ensure that investors in India are informed of material developments until the time of the grant of listing and trading permission by the Stock Exchanges.
SECTION II: RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Equity Shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider all the information in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus, including the risks and uncertainties described below, before making an investment in our Equity Shares. If any of the following risks, or other risks that are not currently known or are now deemed immaterial, actually occur, our business, results of operations and financial condition could suffer, the price of our Equity Shares could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. The financial and other related implications of risks concerned, wherever quantifiable, have been disclosed in the risk factors mentioned below. However, there are risk factors where the impact is not quantifiable and hence the same has not been disclosed in such risk factors. Investment in equity and equity related securities involve a degree of risk and investors should not invest any funds in this offer unless they can afford to take the risk of losing their investment. Investors are advised to read the risk factors carefully before taking an investment decision in this offering. Before making an investment decision, investors must rely on their own examination of the offer and us.
Unless otherwise stated, the financial information of Reliance Infratel used in this section is derived from our audited financial statements under Indian GAAP, as restated.
Risks Relating to our Business
1. There are certain criminal proceedings pending against our Promoter and Chairman
There are certain criminal proceedings against Mr. Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, brief details of which have been provided below:
• There are three criminal complaints where it has been alleged that the complainants were threatened when they demanded consideration be paid and prevented from entering their land, that their land was trespassed upon, and that machinery on such land was illegally removed.
• There are two criminal cases filed by two holders of convertible debentures alleging false statements in the prospectus pertaining to the issue of such convertible debentures by the erstwhile Reliance Polypropylene Limited.
• There are two criminal cases in relation to disputes regarding transfer of shares of the erstwhile Reliance Petroleum Limited.
• There is one criminal case pertaining to purchased shares of the erstwhile Reliance Petroleum Limited lodged for transfer in the complainant’s name. As the transferred shares were not returned to him, he filed this case alleging cheating and criminal breach of trust.
• There are three cases filed where the complainants have alleged forgery and cheating as they continue to receive bills from RCOM even though they do not own a phone connection.
• There is one criminal case for which no documents are traceable.
• There is one criminal case pertaining to a complaint regarding change of the phone subscription plan.
• It was learnt that one Mr. V. M. Raste has filed a private criminal complaint in connection with certain shares of Reliance Energy Limited sold by Reliance Capital Limited.
For more details, see “Outstanding Litigation and Material Developments” on page 165 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus.
Scheme approved by the Bombay High Court, Reliance Next Generation Technology Private Limited (“RNGTPL”), a subsidiary of RCIL which held certain telecommunication assets which could usefully be combined with passive infrastructure, was merged into our Company. On April 10, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), also pursuant to the Demerger Scheme, RCOM and RTL transferred to us the telecommunication towers and related assets that now constitute the core of our business operations. For a further discussion of these transactions, which together we refer to as the “Reorganisation”, see the section entitled “Reorganisation” beginning on page 58 of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus.
Because of our limited operating history, there is little data on which to evaluate our past performance. Our business is evolving and we believe that historical period-to-period comparisons of our financial statements are not meaningful and should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. In addition, our future prospects must be considered in the light of the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in their early stages of development, and in particular new companies in a new and evolving industry. Our business strategy is unproven and there can be no assurance that we will be able to develop a successful business. We have a substantially new management and operational team, the majority of which joined our Company from RCOM and RTL pursuant to the Reorganisation and the assets that now constitute the core of our business, principally the telecommunication towers and related passive infrastructure that were transferred to us in the Reorganisation, were previously operated as part of an integrated wireless telecommunications business. We cannot assure you that we will be able to transform our Company into a successful independent passive infrastructure business. For example, we remain reliant on certain services provided to our Company by RCOM and its subsidiary and affiliate companies and if these services were to be discontinued or not longer made available to us, we may not be able to make suitable alternative arrangements on reasonable commercial terms. Operating as a stand-alone business subjects us to significant regulatory and reporting requirements and we must develop and maintain effective internal control and management systems to ensure compliance with these requirements and to otherwise operate effectively. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so, or that the challenges of operating as a stand-alone company will not occupy a significant amount of our management’s time and resources to the detriment of the development of our business.
3. There is only a limited amount of historical financial information available in respect of our business. Although in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus we present our restated historical financial results for the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2007, throughout this period of time we were effectively a dormant company with no material business or assets. Pursuant to the Reorganisation, we acquired the assets which constitute the core of our business on the Effective Date at their fair value as determined by an independent valuer under the Demerger Scheme approved by the court.
While we have presented in this Draft Red Herring Prospectus financial statements as of and for the nine months ended December 31, 2007, the cash flow and income statement components of the assets that we have acquired, including revenues, expenses, cash generated and cash expended, were not separately accounted for prior to the Effective Date and we are therefore unable to present this information. As a result, we have not presented any historical track record of the revenues, expenses and cash flows of the asset group that constitutes the core of our business, which makes it significantly more difficult to assess our operating track record and to form expectations with regard to our future financial performance. 4. We are heavily reliant on RCOM and its subsidiaries for the substantial majority of our business and
otherwise.
The profitability of our Company is dependent on the performance and business of RCOM and RTL. Accordingly, risks that could harm RCOM and RTL could adversely affect our business and financial condition as well. If either RCOM or RTL experience financial difficulties, it may adversely affect our Company’s business and financial condition. We are heavily reliant on RCOM and its subsidiaries in a number of important respects, including the following:
• RCOM and RTL served as our only tenants on 100.0% of our telecommunication towers as at December 31, 2007, and accounting for 100.0% of our revenues in the period ended December 31, 2007;
• RCOM and its subsidiaries and affiliates provide certain business-critical support functions for our business, including in relation to the operations and management of our sites, information technology
and treasury and administrative services, under a shared facilities and support services agreement dated April 10, 2007 (the “Shared Services Agreement”);
• Our current portfolio expansion plans are based primarily upon RCOM’s and RTL’s plans to expand their respective networks, which are subject to change; and
• We expect to continue to rely on certain RCOM group benefits which provide significant advantages to our business, including (i) fulfilling certain export obligations under the Export Promotion Capital Goods Scheme (the “EPCG Scheme”) by using RCOM group companies’ exports and availing a reduction in our import duties from 7.5% to 5.0% under the terms of the EPCG Scheme, and (ii) using the duty free credit scrips obtained by RCOM to the extent of 10.0% of its foreign exchange earnings during the preceding year under the Serve from India Scheme (“SFI Scheme”) to debit duty amounts payable on our imports. RCOM has no obligation to continue allowing us to avail these benefits and could withdraw these benefits at any time.
Although we are seeking to expand our business to other, non-related wireless service providers within the Indian wireless communications industry, we have to date not done so and cannot assure you that we will be successful in our efforts to diversify our revenue base. We have also, under our master services agreement dated April 10, 2007 (the “Master Services Agreement”) with RCOM and RTL, granted each of them (i) an initial three-month exclusivity period of use of the new passive infrastructure assets that we build or acquire at either of their request and (ii) the option for a period of three years to use two additional slots on each telecommunication tower for possible further use at an additional 25.0% charge per each such slot, which may limit our ability to generate business from third party wireless service providers. Even if our efforts to diversify our business are successful, we still expect, for the foreseeable future, to remain heavily reliant upon RCOM and its subsidiaries for a significant portion of our business and revenues. Our heavy reliance on RCOM and its subsidiaries presents a number of significant risks to our business. RCOM and its subsidiaries businesses’ are subject to various risks, including a reduction in consumer demand and usage charges for cellular telecommunication services, the inability of their key customers to manage their respective operations efficiently and effectively, increased competition among cellular wireless service providers, delays or changes in the deployment of 3G or the commercialisation of other cellular technologies, and municipal, environmental, health and other government regulations.
Further, any decline or downturn in RCOM’s or any of its subsidiaries’ businesses could adversely affect their ability to perform their respective obligations under their contracts with us, including to settle their bills to us as our tenants and/or to provide us with business-critical support services. Moreover, either for this or for other reasons, RCOM could seek to re-negotiate the terms on which it does business with our Company, including by seeking to introduce terms and arrangements that are more favourable to it and that work to our disadvantage. Because of its size and importance to our business, RCOM would have significant leverage in any such discussions. Further, RCOM could attempt to exert its influence in a manner that hinders our ability to do business with its competitors, which we believe to be important to the growth and development of our Company. Moreover, we have provided RCOM and RTL with certain exclusivity and first-refusal rights in our Master Services Agreement with them, which upon exercise would hinder our ability to attract and service other third-party operators as tenants.
Although under our Master Services Agreement with RCOM and RTL we are granted certain rights of first refusal to construct and provide to them the passive infrastructure for the roll-out of their respective networks, and either RCOM or RTL could decide, for example, to significantly reduce the number of new sites that it wants to be developed as part of its expansion. There is nothing in our arrangements with RCOM or RTL that would prevent either of them making any such reduction, and this would have the effect of significantly reducing our anticipated portfolio expansion and future revenue growth. If this were to happen, we cannot assure you that we would be able to find other customers to drive our business growth.
5. We face certain risks associated with the Demerger Scheme
We acquired the assets that constitute the core of our business operations on the Effective Date, pursuant to the Demerger Scheme and the Reorganisation. Although the Reorganisation has been sanctioned by the Bombay High Court, certain actions taken pursuant to the Reorganisation could be subject to challenge and thereby, or otherwise, disrupt our business. The Passive Infrastructure business of RCOM and RTL were transferred to and vested in our Company and became the business, assets and property of our Company along with all the rights, title and interests of RCOM and RTL therein, free from all charges and encumbrances. However:
• approval of any of the parties from whom the land on which our existing telecommunication towers and related passive infrastructure are located is leased or licensed has not been obtained and such lessors may claim that their specific consent may be required under the terms of certain of such leases before RCOM and RTL, respectively, are permitted to transfer their leasehold rights to our Company;
• formal recording of the transfer to us in all relevant governmental and regulatory permits in respect of our existing sites, has not been completed as of date and the relevant authority may, levy penalties on us for not having obtained or maintained permits until such time as the transfer of these permits is completed; and
• in respect of contingent liabilities of RCOM’s and RTL’s assets acquired by us, we cannot assure you that no liabilities exist in respect of such assets from the period during which there were owned by RCOM and RTL, with the effect that we may be subject to significant tax, regulatory or other liabilities in respect of these assets, of which we are currently unaware and for which we have not been indemnified.
These risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
6. Our telecommunication towers are secured in favour of their RCOM’s creditors.
Although the Demerger Scheme sanctions RCOM’s transfer of their passive infrastructure networks to us and we have issued notices to each creditor of RCOM and provided public notices in newspapers with respect to the Reorganisation:
• most of the assets that have been transferred to us by RCOM are secured in favour of RCOM’s creditors and they have not procured the release of this security, which subjects us to the risk that this security could be enforced by creditors of RCOM in the event of a default or alleged default by them under their respective financing arrangements (including any failure to procure consent prior to their transfer of assets to us);
• certain of RCOM’s financing documents require consent to be procured prior to any such transfer, which has not been procured and which could lead to conflicts in respect of the assets that have been transferred to us.
Any enforcement of the charge over our telecommunication towers by RCOM’s creditors could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
7. We may be subject to significant liabilities arising out of litigation and tax claims pending against RCOM and RTL and which have been passed to us in the Demerger Scheme.
RCOM and RTL had certain litigation and tax claims pending against them with respect to their passive infrastructure assets which they have transferred to our Company under the Demerger Scheme. Under the terms of Clause 4.2.1 of the Demerger Scheme, all legal proceedings of any nature by or against RCOM or RTL shall not abate or be discontinued or in any way be prejudicially affected by reason of the Demerger Scheme. As a result, all such legal proceedings shall continue and be enforceable and enforced against our Company. We have not received any indemnity for liabilities arising out of litigation or tax claims pending against RCOM and RTL, which are presently not ascertainable pending determination by the relevant authorities. Further, under the Demerger Scheme, we have undertaken to reimburse and indemnify RCOM and RTL in respect of any liabilities incurred by them in any proceedings against them after the Effective
Date. We cannot assure you that we have or will make adequate provisions to account for these potential liabilities or that no other liabilities exist with respect to our assets of which we are currently unaware. These acquired contingent liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
8. RCOM will retain majority control of our Company after the Issue and it may have interests that are adverse to, and conflict with, the interests of other shareholders.
After the Issue, RCOM will indirectly own or control approximately 85.0% of our total equity share capital. As a result, RCOM will continue to be able to exertsignificant influence over our corporate decisions, including the election or removal of directorsof our Board, the approval of our annual financial information, the declaration of dividends and thedetermination of other matters to be decided by our shareholders, and will be able to influence otheraspects of our management, strategy and operations. As only 10.05 % of our post-Issue capital is being offered in this Issue, other shareholders will likely not be able to determine the outcome of any resolution proposed at a shareholder meeting or influence any decisions made by RCOM in respect of the operation of our business.
The interests of RCOM may be different from our interests or the interests of our other shareholders. This is particularly true because of the fact that RCOM and its subsidiary RTL are our only customers, which could give rise to conflicts of interest. As a result, RCOM may take actions with respect to our business that may not bein ours or our other shareholders’ best interests (but could, for example, be advantageous to it or RTL as our Company’s customers). By exercising its powers of control, RCOM could delay, defer or cause a change of our control or a change in our capital structure, delay, defer orcause a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us, discourage orencourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our Companyor take actions adverse to the interests of our other shareholders.
9. Our Promoter, RCIL, has existing business operations that compete with us and could potentially conflict with the interests of our shareholders.
As of the date of this Draft Red Herring Prospectus, RCOM holds a 100.0% interest in RCIL. RCIL in turn owns 79.71% of our issued equity share capital prior to this Offering. RCIL owns 472 telecommunication towers that were awarded to it by the Government of India under the USO Fund Scheme and therefore has existing business operations in the telecommunication tower industry.
This could potentially result in a conflict of interest between us, RCOM and RCIL. In order to mitigate this risk, we have procured a right of first refusal from RCOM for construction of telecommunication towers in the future and a non-compete arrangement under which RCOM will not engage in any business activity similar to our business through RCIL or any other associate company. However, if our Promoters decide to use companies other than us to develop their telecommunication tower business in India, our business strategy and competitive positioning could be adversely affected.
10. Certain of our shareholders have rights that may allow them to exercise control over our Company in certain respects until completion of this Issue.
Pursuant share sale agreement dated July 30, 2007 (the “Share Sale Agreement”), RTIHL sold 5.0% of our share capital to certain institutional investors. These investors comprised four entities belonging to the Galleon group, Galleon Technology Partners II, L.P, Galleon Technology Offshore, Ltd, Galleon International Master Fund, SPC Ltd and Galleon Special Opportunities Fund, SPC Ltd (together “Galleon”), NSR-PE Mauritius LLC (“NSR”), HSBC Principal Investments, which entity subsequently assigned its rights to HSBC Iris Investments (Mauritius) Limited (“HSBC”), IIC Limited (“DAC”), GLG Emerging Markets Special Situations Fund (“GLG”), Drawbridge Towers Limited (“Fortress”) and Quantum (M) Limited (“Soros”).
• We require the consent of the Purchaser or Purchasers holding more than 50.0% of the Equity Shares held by all the Purchasers (the “Majority Purchasers”) to terminate or agree to any termination of the Master Services Agreement;
• We require the consent of the Majority Purchasers to amend, vary or modify (or agree to any amendment, variation or modification to) any term or condition of the Master Services Agreement relating to the Service Charges payable by RCOM and RTL to our Company for the use of sites;
• In the event that RCOM, RTIHL or their respective affiliates decide to sell a majority stake (i.e. Equity Shares representing more than 50.0% of the issued equity share capital) in our Company to a third party (i.e. not an affiliate of either of them), the Purchasers will have a right to sell their entire stake to such third party at the same implied price per share for their stake;
• If our Company issues or proposes to issue any Equity Shares or any other instrument that is convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for shares (“Issuance Securities”), the shareholders shall have the right to participate in such issuance pro rata to their shareholding in our Company in accordance with Section 81 of the Indian Companies Act 1956 (the “Pre-emptive Right”).
• Our Company is not permitted to take certain actions without the prior consent of the Majority Purchasers, including (i) make any amendment to its memorandum and articles of association which would adversely affect the rights of the Purchasers, (ii) enter into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business or not on arm’s length commercial terms, (iii) dispose of any material asset or provide any material service or facility other than on an arm’s length basis in the ordinary course of business, and (iv) effect any material change in the nature of the business of our Company by diversifying into an unrelated area of business or cease business.
Pursuant to letters received from each one of them, the Purchasers have consented to this IPO being undertaken by our Company, sub-division of equity shares of Rs. 10 each into equity shares of Rs. 5 each and amendment of our articles of association to comply with applicable regulatory requirement.
Some of these rights are also included in our Articles. These rights will automatically fall away upon the happening of an initial public offering.
Pursuant to the Share Sale Agreement, we also undertook to use our best efforts to achieve an initial public offering in which the implied valuation of each Equity Share for the purposes of such offering is at least as much as the price per Equity Share paid by the Purchasers within 18 months from the date of the Share Sale Agreement.
11. Our business model may not prove to be successful.
Infrastructure sharing in the wireless communications sector is a relatively recent concept in India. In addition, although passive communication infrastructure sharing has been successful in the United States, it has had only limited success elsewhere in world and has not been successful in Asia. The telecommunications market differs in certain important respects from that in India. There can be no assurance that growth in the wireless communications sector will continue or that wireless service providers will seek to reduce costs by increasing their reliance on shared passive infrastructure, either with other wireless service providers or with third-party stand-alone telecommunication tower operators such as our Company. In particular, wireless service providers may be unwilling to outsource passive infrastructure operations to third parties because they may not consider it to be economically beneficial or, may be unwilling to surrender what they believe to be competitive advantages offered by ownership of proprietary networks, or for other reasons. Any failure of passive infrastructure sharing to develop within the Indian wireless communications sector in the way that we anticipate could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Further, our financial prospects are directly dependent upon the average tenancy rate of our towers. For the period ended December 31, 2007, our Company had an actual system-wide average telecommunication tower occupancy of 1.2.
