Lenders raise the bar for Vi's big loan

Vodafone Idea’s (Vi) ₹35,000-crore debt plan is facing scrutiny, with lenders prevailing upon the company to scale back its financial projections, while also demanding a corporate guarantee from another Aditya Birla Group firm, according to two people in the know.

- Shayan Ghosh & Jatin Grover

The demands underscore banks’ insistence on stronger safeguards before extending one of the sector's biggest loans.

The people said Vi's earlier business projections were too optimistic and were tempered to “manageable levels”. Typically, companies submit cash-flow and other business projections with their loan requests.

Bankers are still discussing the proposal, and no concrete decision has yet been taken, said the people. The loan will help Vi execute its ₹45,000 crore capital expenditure to boost network infrastructure.

“The corporate guarantee (from an Aditya Birla Group group peer) is necessary for this loan. It is a large bet that banks will have to take on the telco,” said one of the two people. Issued by a parent or a strong group firm, a corporate guarantee is like a backstop and protects lenders in case of a default.

The Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Plc own total 25.6% in Vi, with Aditya Birla Group holding 9.57% end March. The government owns a 49% stake.

According to a third person in the know, State Bank of India's (SBI) investment banking arm SBI Capital Markets is working on the proposal that includes ₹10,000 crore in nonfunded debt as well.