Tata Communications subsidiary issues termination notice to Vodafone Idea

A subsidiary of Tata Communications has issued a termination notice to its customer, Vodafone Idea after the Aditya Birla group-Vodafone PLC joint venture company did not pay the Tata group firm in time. Tata Communications, which did not name the telco, said it is in discussion on a disengagement transition plan with the "customer."
 

In a notice to the stock exchange, the company said the carrying amount of trade receivables (including unbilled revenue) from the customer was Rs 221.19 crores as on December 2023. "The group believes that the balance is a good and recoverable basis for its on-going interactions with the customer," Tata Communication said. The dues from Vodafone Idea increased from Rs 171.5 crore as on March last year.
 

The company said it has significant trade receivables outstanding (including unbilled revenue) as at December 31, 2023 from the customer. "The customer in its declared unaudited results for quarter ended September 30, 2023, had expressed its ability to continue as a going concern, to be dependent on raising additional funds as required, successful negotiations with lenders and vendors for continued support and generation of cash flow from operations that it needs to settle its liabilities as they fall due," Tata Communications said in its note to the accounts for December quarter results.
 

"Further, the results stated that as at September 30, 2023, the said customer has met all its debt obligations payable to its lenders/banks and financial institutions along with applicable interest and has utilised extended credit period to discharge some of its contractual obligations. The customer continues to be in discussion with its vendors to agree to a payment plan for the outstanding dues. Also, during February 2023, the customer allotted equity shares to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management, Government of India towards conversion of net present value of the interest amount relating to deferment of certain dues and accordingly, the Indian government now holds 33.1 per cent stake in the said customer," Tata Communications said.  Vodafone Group PLC of UK owns 32.29 percent stake in VIL while ABG owns 18.07 per cent stake Vodafone Idea shares closed flat at Rs 15 on Thursday. 

According to a Vi Spokesperson, “The company has itself stated that they have decided to terminate the agreement based on their own strategic assessment of this line of business.”