Mumbai – August 31, 2018
• Idea Cellular (being renamed as ‘Vodafone Idea Limited’) – An Aditya Birla Group & Vodafone
Group partnership1 - becomes operational as India’s leading telecom service provider with a
subscriber base of over 408 million2.
• New Board of Directors comprising 12 Directors (including 6 Independent Directors)
constituted, with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla as the Chairman.
• The Board has appointed Mr. Balesh Sharma as the CEO.
• Pan India Revenue Market Share (AGR) of 32.2%3, and a #1 position in 9 circles.
• Growing broadband network (3G+4G) with over 340,000 broadband sites covering 840 million
Indians.
• Largest voice network with over 200,000 unique GSM sites4 to cover over 1.2 billion Indians
(92% population coverage).
• Large spectrum portfolio of ~1850 MHz and an adequate number of broadband carriers, to
provide superior consumer experience across 2G, 3G and 4G platforms.
• Widest distribution reach with over 1.7 million retailers and ~15,000 branded stores to service
customers.
• Both Vodafone and Idea brands, which have strong consumer affinity across metro, urban, rural
and deep interior markets, will continue to operate.
Financial Highlights
• Merger is expected to generate Rs. 140 billion annual synergy, including opex synergies of Rs.
84 billion, equivalent to a net present value of approximately Rs. 700 billion5.
• The equity infusion of Rs. 67.5 billion at Idea and Rs. 86 billion at Vodafone coupled with
monetization of standalone towers of both companies for an enterprise value of Rs. 78.5 billion,
provides the company a strong cash balance of over Rs. 193 billion6 post payout of Rs. 39 billion
to the DoT.
• Additionally, the Company has an option to monetise an 11.15% stake in Indus, which would
equate to a cash consideration of Rs. 51 billion7.
• As at 30 June 2018, net debt was INR 1092 billion6.
On the occasion of the merger, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Idea Limited, said, “Today, we have created India’s leading telecom operator. It is truly a historic moment. And this is much more than just about creating a large business. It is about our Vision of empowering and enabling a New India and meeting the aspirations of the youth of our country. The “Digital India”, as our Honourable Prime Minister describes it, is a monumental nation- building opportunity. As Vodafone Idea, we are partnering in this initiative by building a formidable company of international repute, scale and standards.”
Vodafone Idea will accelerate India’s progression towards a digital economy, enabling millions of citizens to connect to the digital revolution and build a better tomorrow. We will continue to offer a wide variety of digital services and solutions under both of our popular and loved brands (Vodafone and Idea). Services - including Voice, Data, Mobile payments, IoT, advanced enterprise offerings and entertainment – will all be conveniently accessible via digital channels and extensive on-ground presence of 15,000 branded stores and 1.7 million retail touchpoints across the country.
Welcoming customers to India’s leading telecom network, Mr. Balesh Sharma, CEO, Vodafone Idea Limited, said, “As India’s leading telecom operator with two popular and loved brands, the company has the scale and resources to ensure sustainable customer choice and introduce new technologies. We are committed to offer both our retail and enterprise customers an excellent experience while fulfilling their evolving digital and connectivity needs via new products, services and solutions. We will offer them more network coverage, more value and more excitement. My team and I look forward to your continuing support and invite you to enjoy the Vodafone Idea experience.”
The merger brings together Vodafone India and Idea Cellular, two of India’s leading operators who played a key role in making mobile the
VODAFONE IDEA LTD India’s Leading Telecom Service Provider
most popular mode of communication and
✓ Subscriber base of over 408 million (June 18) drove the telecom revolution across the
✓ RMS 32.2% , Leadership in 9 circles (Q1 FY19) country. The combined company is designed
✓ CMS 41.1%3, Leadership in 12 circles (June 18) to be agile, digitally savvy and future fit. It is a professionally run world class organization, combining the best from both Vodafone India and Idea Cellular. The company is committed to create a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect, join the digital
✓ Over 200,000 enterprise customers
✓ Over 340,000 Broadband sites with
connectivity across the country
✓ Network outreach to 92% of population over 200,000 unique GSM cell sites
with
revolution and build a better tomorrow. It will
✓ Enhanced coverage across ~500,000 towns &
accelerate India’s progression towards a digital
villages
economy with a portfolio of quality products
✓ 1.7 million retail touchpoints
and services on offer under both its popular
✓ 50,000 channel partners
and loved brands - Vodafone and Idea.
✓ Widest footprint of 15,000 branded stores
With 1850 MHz of total spectrum holding, over 200,000 unique GSM sites and ~235,000 kms of fibre, the merged company offers superior voice and broadband connectivity across the country, covering 92% of the population and reaching nearly 500,000 towns and villages. This extensive infrastructure will allow customers to remain confidently connected across the country and enjoy uninterrupted services even as it integrates and optimizes its network in a phased manner across circles.
In addition to superior quality voice and data service experience, customers will enjoy a variety of digital services and solutions including mobile payments, Internet of Things (IoT), advanced enterprise offerings and entertainment, conveniently accessible via digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence through ~15,000 branded outlets and ~1.7 million retail touchpoints across the country. Vodafone Idea will continue to invest in developing world-class infrastructure and introduce newer and smarter technologies - IoT, high speed and secure leased lines, digital wallets, MIMO and cloud services. As the trusted partner for Indian enterprises, it will empower businesses with future-ready products and services to help them scale up, become more efficient and tap new, emerging opportunities in the digital era.
The Company draws on support from its two largest shareholders – Vodafone Group Plc and Aditya Birla Group – to drive excellence and value creation from this merger.
Details of Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team
Vodafone Idea Limited: Board of Directors
Kumar Mangalam Birla Chairman
Debnarayan Bhattacharya Non-Executive Director
Himanshu Kapania Non-Executive Director
Ravinder Takkar Non-Executive Director
Thomas Reisten Non-Executive Director
Vivek Badrinath Non-Executive Director
Arun Kumar Adhikari Independent Director
Arun Thiagarajan Independent Director
Ashwani Windlass Independent Director
Doug Baillie Independent Director
Tarjani Vakil Independent Director
Uday Khanna Independent Director
Vodafone Idea Limited: Leadership Team
Balesh Sharma Chief Executive Officer
Akshaya Moondra Chief Financial Officer
Ambrish Jain Chief Operations Officer
Nick Gliddon Chief Enterprise Business Officer
Manish Dawar Chief Integration Officer
Sashi Shankar Chief Marketing Officer
Vishant Vora Chief Technology Officer
Suvamoy Roy Choudhury Chief Human Resource Officer
Kavita Nair Chief Digital Transformation Officer
Navanit Narayan Chief Strategy Officer
P Balaji Chief Regulatory & Corporate Affairs Officer
Kumar Das Chief Legal Officer
Rajesh Srivastava Chief Commercial Officer
