Idea Cellular fixes Rs 82.50 per share to raise Rs 35-bn through QIP

Idea Cellular today said its capital raising committee has approved an issue price of Rs 82.50 per share for sale of shares through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) to raise as much as Rs 35 billion.

"The capital raising committee of the company at its meeting on Wednesday approved the closure of the issue for the QIP," Idea said in a regulatory filing.

The committee "determined and approved the issue price of Rs 82.50 per equity shares (including a premium of Rs 72.50 per equity share) for issuance of 424.2 million equity shares, aggregating to Rs 35 billion, to the eligible qualified institutional buyers in the QIP," the filing said.

The panel also approved and adopted the placement document in connection with the QIP.

Birla TMT, Elaine Investments, Oriana Investments -- the controlling shareholders of Idea Cellular -- have recently invested Rs 32.5 billion to strengthen the company's balance sheet prior the planned merger with Vodafone India.

Following the QIP, their stake in India's third-largest telecom operator will rise to 47.2 per cent from 42.4 per cent now.

Last month, Idea had said that the proposed capital raising along with the sale of its standalone towers to American Tower Corp as well as sale of the firm's 11.15 per cent stake in Indus Towers Ltd will augment long-term capital resources.

The fund raising would help the company fight intense competition being witnessed by the telecom sector following the entry of Reliance Jio.