YOU Broadband & Cable plans to go public


Mumbai: YOU Broadband and Cable India, cable broadband service provider, proposes to enter capital market with a public issue to raise around $80 million. This is the third company from the broadband space approaching IPO route since October 2009; first two were Den Networks and Hathway Broadband. YOU Telecom (Mauritius) holds 82.44 percent stake in the company, 8.27 percent is with YOU Telecom Employee & Welfare Trust and 4.41 percent is with Bennett Coleman & Company. The company commenced operations in 2001 and currently provides high-speed broadband cable internet services to residential and enterprise segment customers across 11 cities in India. As of September 30, 2009, it owned and operated over 990 kilometers of fiber optic cable and over 4,100 kilometers of trunk coaxial cable network, supported by 11 NOCs. As of September 30, 2009, its residential broadband internet service subscriber base aggregated approximately 200,779 customers. It intends to use issue proceeds for capital expenditure in connection with broadband business (of 1,57.39 crore); acquisition of additional equity shares in Digital Outsourcing ( 12.83 crore); investment in Digital Outsourcing by way of providing loans and/or through purchase/subscription of an equity interest therein for purchase of set-top boxes, head-end equipments, software, other related equipment, and acquisition of customers in connection with cable network services; expenses towards working capital; repayment of outstanding loan and for general corporate purposes.