Reliance Communications, Aircel announce wireless ops merger, to create Rs 65,000-crore entity

The highly competitive telecom industry has witnessed the conclusion of the biggest consolidation deal, almost a week after billionaire Mukesh Ambani launched Reliance Jio's services.

Mukesh's younger brother Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications and GSM mobile service provider Aircel announced the merger of their wireless operations on Wednesday to create a combined entity with assets worth Rs 65,000 crore.

The deal was in the works for many months. It will cut debt of RCom and Maxis Communications Berhad (MCB) hold 50 per cent each in the merged entity with equal representation on the board and committees.

The transaction will reduce RCom's debt by Rs 20,000 crore ($3 billion), while Aircel's debt would go down by Rs 4,000 crore ($600 million) on closing in 2017, the two companies said.

The merger will create India's fourth-largest telecom operator by customer base and revenues. The merged entity will have the second-largest spectrum holding among all operators, aggregating 448 MHz across 850, 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz bands.

The entity will have assets of Rs 65,000 crore ($9.7 billion) and net worth of Rs 35,000 crore ($5.2 billion).

"Together with our partners, MCB, we are delighted to have taken the lead in consolidation of the Indian telecom sector, first, with RCom's acquisition of the wireless business of SSTL (Sistema/MTS), and now, with the combination of our business with Aircel in a 50:50 joint venture with MCB," Reliance Group Chairman Anil Ambani said.

This combination is expected to create substantial long term value for shareholders of both, RCom and MCB, given the benefits of the wide-ranging spectrum portfolio and significant revenue and cost synergies, he added.

"This deal further reinforces MCBs commitment to India. Since acquiring Aircel in 2006, MCB has invested in excess of Rs 35,000 crore ($5.2 billion) into Aircel, making this one of the largest foreign investments into India, not only in the telecom industry but across all sectors," MCB said.

RCom will continue to own and operate its high-growth businesses in the domestic and global enterprise space, data centres, optic fibre and related telecom infrastructure, besides owning real estate.

In December 2015, the two firms announced entering into 90-day 'exclusivity period' for the merger deal that will exclude RCom's tower and optical fibre assets for which a separate sale process was in the process.

(With PTI inputs)