Tata Teleservices & DoCoMo to split, setting stage for negotiations over valuation

Japan's NTT DoCoMo has decided to exit Tata TeleservicesBSE -0.67 % by selling its 26.5% stake in its telecom joint venture with the Tata Group through a pre-agreed put option, setting the stage for protracted negotiations over valuation as the Indian conglomerate is likely to renegotiate the sum it has to pay to buy back the shares. The agreement was signed between the two companies in 2008-09. 

Under the terms of the agreement, the Tata Group needs to ensure that its partner in the lossmaking joint venture gets the higher of either half the investment it made — which amounts to Rs 7,250 crore — or the stake's fair market price in case the company fails to perform at a certain level. NTT DoCoMo had issued a notice to the Tatas three days ago, exercising its option to get a refund of Rs 7,250 crore by returning its 26% in Tata Teleservices before the deadline on July 9.

Confirming the development, Tata Sons spokesman Debasis Ray said in an email: "The formal communication has now been received from NTT DoCoMo to that effect." However, the Tata Group, which has applied for RBI approval to pay NTT DoCoMo as per the put option, expects regulatory hurdles. A central bank rule says put options must be exercised based on prevailing return on equity at the time the option is exercised, which could play spoilsport for DoCoMo's exit plan. 

Since Tata Tele has been making losses and its net worth is negative, this clause could mean DoCoMo might not get the price it is looking for. RBI, in its latest monetary policy in May, had indicated that it was examining a mechanism linking such options to a fair market value, but it is yet to implement that decision. 

DoCoMo had purchased its Tata Tele stake in instalments in 2009 and 2011 for $2.7 billion, at a time the telecom sector was the poster child of India's fast-growing economy.