Press Release

VIS Reaffirms Ratings of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited

Karachi, October 11, 2019: VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) has reaffirmed entity ratings of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) at ‘AAA/A-1+’ (Triple A/A-One Plus). The medium to long-term rating of ‘AAA’ denotes highest credit quality, with negligible risk factors, being only slightly more than for risk-free debt of Government of Pakistan. The short-term rating of ‘A-1+’ denotes highest certainty of timely payment, liquidity factors are outstanding and safety is just below risk free short-term obligations of Government of Pakistan. Outlook on the assigned ratings is ‘Stable’. The previous rating action was announced on October 11, 2018.

PTCL is the leading Integrated Information Communication Technology (ICT) Company in Pakistan, having the largest fixed-line network in the country. The company’s products and services include voice services, high-speed broadband internet, CharJi wireless internet, Smart TV (IPTV) service, Smart TV App and Touch App, digital-content streaming services like Netflix and icflix, and enterprise-grade platforms like Smart Cloud, Tier-3 Certified Data Centers, Managed and Satellite Services. PTCL has wholly owned subsidiaries including Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (UFONE), which is a mobile service provider and a growing Microfinance Bank.

The assigned ratings take into account strong ownership structure of PTCL, as 62.2% shareholding is held by the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and 26% by Etisalat Group along with the management control. Etisalat Group currently carries AA-/Stable ratings from the S&P Global and Aa3/Stable ratings from Moody’s. The ratings draw comfort from PTCL’s leading market position in fixed-line voice segment with 90% share, wireline broadband segment with 80% share, and wireless data segment with 30% share. While the company’s voice and wireless data segments are expected to remain under pressure due to continued shift towards mobile data and strong competition from Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs), the strengthening of infrastructure with the completion of Network Transformation Project (NTP) will underpin growth in broadband and IPTV business. The ratings also factor in low financial risk profile of the company, as reflecting in healthy cash flows generation and debt-free balance sheet despite significant capital expenditure over the past three years.

Going forward, ratings are dependent on PTCL increasing revenues, maintaining EBITDA margins and sustaining prudent financial policies (including debt free balance sheet), while further strengthening its market positioning. Ratings are also subject to maintaining good liquidity while investing adequate levels of capex to strengthen its competitive capacity.

For further information on this rating announcement, please contact the undersigned at 021-35311861-70 or Mr. Maimoon Rasheed at 042-35723411-13.


Jamal Abbas Zaidi
Advisor

Applicable rating criterion: Corporates (May 2019)
http://www.vis.com.pk/kc-meth.aspx

Information herein was obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable; however, VIS Credit Rating Company Limited (VIS) does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information.VIS , the analysts involved in the rating process and members of its rating committee do not have any conflict of interest relating to the rating(s)/ranking(s) mentioned in this report.VIS is paid a fee for most rating assignments. This rating/ranking is an opinion and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. Copyright 2019 VIS Credit Rating Company Limited . All rights reserved. Contents may be used by news media with credit to VIS .