OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch has assigned TBG Global Pte Ltd's USD350m 5.25% notes due 2022, which are guaranteed by PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk (TBI; BB/Stable), but not by TBI's operating subsidiaries (opcos), a final rating of 'BB'. The final rating follows the receipt of documents conforming to information already received, and is in line with the expected rating assigned on 26 January 2015.

TBG Global Pte Ltd is a finance subsidiary of TBI, an Indonesia-based telecommunications tower operator.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

Proposed Notes Not Notched: Fitch rates the proposed notes at the same level as TBI's Issuer Default Rating (IDR) despite their structural subordination to debt at the opcos, which generate all of the group's revenue. We have not notched down the proposed notes because we believe that there will be a strong creditor recovery in a distress scenario as a high proportion of the group's operating cash flows are contractually locked in (USD2.2bn at end-September 2014).

Replacement of Opco Debt: The equalisation of the proposed notes with TBI's IDR is also based on our expectation that the company will gradually replace its debt at its opcos with debt at the holding company. Proceeds from the proposed notes will be used to partially repay unsecured bank borrowings at the opco level, which will reduce the proposed notes' structural subordination.

Mitratel Acquisition Strengthens TBI's Profile: While the acquisition of PT Dayamitra Telekomunikasi (Mitratel) will dilute TBI's EBITDA margin, it will also improve TBI's tenancy mix and cash visibility. Fitch believes that tenancy mix will remain robust with investment-grade telcos accounting for more than 80% of revenue following the acquisition (82% in 3Q14). Additionally, cash flow visibility will improve with additional contracted revenues from Mitratel.

Strong Funding Access: In addition to its high cash flow visibility, TBI's liquidity is also supported by strong access to funding from banks and bond markets, both local and overseas, evidenced by the November 2014 raising of USD1.3bn of unsecured bank borrowings.

More Tower Sales to Come: We believe that the three largest telcos in Indonesia may further monetise their tower portfolios. The market leader PT Telekomunikasi Selular (AAA(idn)/Stable) might divest part of its tower portfolio (around 18,000 towers) despite its low leverage. PT XL Axiata Tbk (BBB/Stable) and PT Indosat Tbk (BBB/Stable) may also try to sell their tower portfolios to release capital (both still own more than 6,000 towers). Fitch believes that a debt-funded tower acquisition will be negative for TBI's ratings given the current low ratings headroom.

KEY ASSUMPTIONS

Fitch's key assumptions within our rating case for the issuer include:
- Organic growth of 1,500- 2,000 towers per annum;
- Acquisition of Mitratel is completed in 2015;
- No growth in Mitratel's reseller business;
- No tower portfolio acquisition

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Fitch expects no positive rating action as the company's leverage will remain high in the medium term.
Negative: Future developments that could individually or collectively lead to negative rating actions include:
- A debt-funded acquisition, or lease defaults by weaker telcos, or significant dividend payments leading to FFO-adjusted net leverage remaining above 4.0x on a sustained basis.