Rating Rationale
August 22, 2019 | Mumbai
Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited
Rated amount enhanced 
 
Rating Action
Total Bank Loan Facilities Rated Rs.5166 Crore
Long Term Rating CRISIL AA-/Stable (Reaffirmed)
Short Term Rating CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
 
Rs.5500 Crore Commercial Paper (Enhanced from Rs.5000 Crore) CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has reaffirmed its 'CRISIL AA-/Stable/CRISIL A1+' ratings on the bank facilities and commercial paper of Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited (TTML).
 
The ratings continue to factor in expectation of continued strong support from Tata Sons Ltd (Tata Sons; 'CRISIL AAA/FAAA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') to Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) and its associate, Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd (TTML). TTSL and TTML are collectively referred to as Tata Tele. These strengths are partially offset by low profitability and market share of Tata Tele and weak debt protection metrics.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of TTSL and TTML. This is because of strong operational linkages, common business and management, and fungible funds between the two companies.
 
CRISIL has applied its parent notch-up criteria to factor in the extent of support expected from Tata Sons. The ratings are centrally based on parent support. CRISIL believes Tata Tele will, in case of exigencies, receive distress support from Tata Sons for timely meeting of debt obligation. Tata Sons has provided funding support in the past by infusing Rs 23,090 crore between April 2018 and July 2019.
 
Preference shares issued to Tata Sons by TTSL have been considered as quasi equity as they carry low dividend and are compulsorily convertible into equity. Optionally convertible preference shares and optionally convertible debentures issued to Tata Sons by TTSL have been considered as quasi equity as they carry low dividend.

Please refer Annexure - List of Entities Consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strength
* Expectation of continued strong support from Tata Sons
Tata Tele receives significant financial and management support from Tata Sons, which has invested substantial funds. This has enabled Tata Tele to reduce debt to Rs 7,880 crore as on August 20, 2019, from Rs 30,741 crore (including spectrum liabilities) as on March 31, 2018. Tata Sons, along with its affiliates, holds around 90% stake in TTSL; while it has around 75% stake in TTML. Furthermore, association with the Tata group enables Tata Tele to leverage parent's brand to market products and services. Tata Sons will continue to work with Tata Tele in case the latter needs to arrange for any shortfall in liquidity that may be required for timely debt repayment, operational funding requirements, or regulatory payouts.
 
Weaknesses
* Low profitability and market share amid intense competition
Business risk profile remains weak. The enterprise, fixed-line, and broadband businesses have shown resilience; however, market share (in terms of revenue) has been impacted due to intense competition in the mobility business.
 
* Weak capital structure and debt protection metrics: Despite fund infusion, capital structure will remain subdued as networth was negative as on March 31, 2019. Subdued operating profit will lead to average debt protection metrics over the medium term.
Liquidity

Tata Tele currently holds around Rs 350 crore of liquid surplus. Liquidity has been supported by regular fund infusions from Tata Sons (Rs 23,090 crore between April 2018 and July 2019). Tata Sons has also provided a support letter to Tata Tele stating that it will take necessary actions to organise for any shortfall in liquidity to meet debt obligation in a timely manner. Tata Sons has also extended a letter of awareness to the investors in the debt programme of Tata Tele. CRISIL believes Tata Sons will continue to provide financial support to Tata Tele in case of any exigency.

Tata Tele also has high financial flexibility, arising from being part of the Tata group, which enables it to raise resources for its funding requirements. The merger process of the consumer business with Bharti Airtel Ltd (Bharti Airtel; rated 'CRISIL AA/Stable/CRISIL A1+') has been completed with effect July 1, 2019, at a consideration of Rs 5,093 crore. Furthermore, Tata Tele is evaluating various options, including complete exit, with regards to its enterprise and fixed line/broadband businesses that it continues to hold at present. In the light of current debt reduction plans, the combined entity should have debt of less than Rs 6,000 crore by the end of December 2019. CRISIL believes Tata Sons will continue to support Tata Tele for its funding requirements or to bridge any shortfall towards its financial obligations arising out of regular business activity as well as any regulatory payouts, if required.

Outlook: Stable

The rating is centrally based on support from Tata Sons. CRISIL believes the parent will continue to support Tata Tele in a timely manner.
 
Upside scenario
* More-than-expected support from Tata Sons
 
Downside scenario
* Any deterioration in the credit risk profile of Tata Sons
* Change in stance of support by Tata Sons

About Tata Tele
TTML, along with TTSL, has a wide presence across key geographies, spanning over 19 telecom circles and operations in towns and villages across the country. The company offers wireline data, connectivity, marketing and voice services along with managed services and IoT products under the existing enterprise business.
 
Tata Tele announced completion of sale of its consumer mobile business to Bharti Airtel (and Bharti Hexacom) with effect July 1, 2019. Consequently, all customers, assets, spectrum, and agreed liabilities of Tata Tele have been merged with Bharti Airtel. Tata Tele is also evaluating various options, including complete exit, with regards to the residual businesses in the enterprise, fixed-line, and broadband segments.

Key Financial Indicators (TTML-Standalone)
Particulars Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs crore 1277 1869
Profit after tax (PAT) Rs crore -667 -9842
PAT margin % -52.2 -526.6
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times NM NM
Adjusted interest coverage Times 0.47 0.13
NM - Not Meaningful

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of instrument Date of allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size 
(Rs crore)
Rating assigned
 with outlook
NA Commercial Paper NA NA 7-365-days 5500 CRISIL A1+
NA Cash Credit/Overdraft Facility* NA NA NA 305.00 CRISIL AA-/Stable
NA Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee** NA NA NA 1896.66 CRISIL A1+
NA Short Term Loan NA NA NA 1925.00 CRISIL A1+
NA Proposed Term Loan NA NA NA 1039.34 CRISIL AA-/Stable
*Interchangeable between fund-based and non-fund-based limits to the extent of Rs.150 crore
**Includes buyer's credit limit of USD2.5 crore (around Rs. 161.6 Crore)
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Entity Consolidated Extent of Consolidation Rationale for Consolidation
Tata Teleservices Ltd Full Both the companies have strong operational linkages with each other, are in same line of business and cash flows are fungible within the two entities.
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2019 (History) 2018  2017  2016  Start of 2016
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  5500.00  CRISIL A1+  23-07-19  CRISIL A1+  19-12-18  CRISIL A1+  22-12-17  CRISIL A1+    --  -- 
        22-03-19  CRISIL A1+  10-10-18  CRISIL A1+           
            25-06-18  CRISIL A1+           
            10-04-18  CRISIL A1+           
Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  3269.34  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  23-07-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  19-12-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  22-12-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  14-11-16  CRISIL A-/Negative  CRISIL A/Negative/ CRISIL A1 
        22-03-19  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  10-10-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  21-11-17  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+       
            25-06-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  17-10-17  CRISIL A/Watch Developing/ CRISIL A1/Watch Developing       
            10-04-18  CRISIL AA-/Stable/ CRISIL A1+  07-07-17  CRISIL A/Stable/ CRISIL A1       
Non Fund-based Bank Facilities  LT/ST  1896.66  CRISIL A1+  23-07-19  CRISIL A1+  19-12-18  CRISIL A1+  22-12-17  CRISIL A1+  14-11-16  CRISIL A2+  CRISIL A1 
        22-03-19  CRISIL A1+  10-10-18  CRISIL A1+  21-11-17  CRISIL A1+       
            25-06-18  CRISIL A1+  17-10-17  CRISIL A1/Watch Developing       
            10-04-18  CRISIL A1+  07-07-17  CRISIL A1       
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Annexure - Details of various bank facilities
Current facilities Previous facilities
Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating Facility Amount (Rs.Crore) Rating
Cash Credit/ Overdraft facility* 305 CRISIL AA-/Stable Cash Credit/ Overdraft facility* 305 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee** 1896.66 CRISIL A1+ Letter of credit & Bank Guarantee** 1896.66 CRISIL A1+
Proposed Term Loan 1039.34 CRISIL AA-/Stable Proposed Term Loan 1039.34 CRISIL AA-/Stable
Short Term Loan 1925 CRISIL A1+ Short Term Loan 1925 CRISIL A1+
Total 5166 -- Total 5166 --
*Interchangeable between fund-based and non-fund-based limits to the extent of Rs.150 crore
**Includes buyer's credit limit of USD 2.5 crore (around Rs. 161.6 Crore)
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
CRISILs Bank Loan Ratings - process, scale and default recognition
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Mobile Telephony Services
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt
Criteria for Notching up Stand Alone Ratings of Companies based on Group Support

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