Rating firms monitoring MTNL as telco misses escrow transfer for bond payments

India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) is closely monitoring the financial situation of state-owned Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited (MTNL) after it failed to transfer sufficient funds to an escrow account for bond interest payments. This breach is deemed a default event, triggering a possible government guarantee invocation. MTNL issued bonds in July 2023, raising Rs 2,480 crore at 7.59% interest. Due to insufficient funds, MTNL couldn't fund the escrow account as required. Ind-Ra and CRISIL Ratings have downgraded MTNL’s unsupported ratings due to its deteriorating financial performance and delayed debt servicing.