"Reliance In Golden Decade": Mukesh Ambani's Group Becomes Net Debt-Free

Reliance Industries said it has raised more than Rs 1,68,818 crore in 58 days, taking into account investments of Rs 1,15,693.95 crore in its digital services arm and Rs 53,124.20 crore through the issue of rights. With these investments, the group said it has become net debt-free. Its net-debt had stood at Rs 1,61,035 crore as of March 31, 2020. Reliance Industries said that the combined capital raised so far - including the rights issue and sale of stake in Jio - has no precedence globally in such a short time. The group said that both are also unprecedented in the country's corporate history, and that it is "even more remarkable that this was achieved amidst a global lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic". "Therefore, on the proud occasion of becoming a net debt-free company, I wish to assure them that Reliance in its Golden Decade will set even more ambitious growth goals, and achieve them, in fulfilment of the vision of our Founder, Dhirubhai Ambani, to consistently increase our contribution to India's prosperity and inclusive development," Mukesh Ambani said. Earlier this month, Reliance Industries' rights issue was subscribed 1.59 times, which the company said was "not only the largest ever in India, but also the largest in the world by a non-financial entity in the last ten years". Reliance Industries shares jumped 1.68 per cent to scale a new record high of Rs 1,684 on Friday. The shares have broken a slew of records in the past few days, rising on the back of investment in Jio as well as the success of the rights issue, say analysts. The RIL stock is up 9.39 per cent so far this year, sharply outperforming the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex index which has fallen 17.08 per cent. (Read more on Reliance shares here) "Exceeding the expectations of our shareholders and all other stakeholders, again and yet again, is in the very DNA of Reliance," Mr Ambani said. Reliance Industries sold a total 24.70 per cent stake in Jio Platforms in 11 deals for Rs 1,15,693.95 crore within nine weeks starting April 22. (Read more on Jio Platforms' 11 deals) Out of these 11 deals, Facebook committed the biggest capital infusion of Rs 43,573.62 crore for a 9.99 per cent stake in Jio Platforms, which houses Reliance Industries' telecoms arm Reliance Jio Infocomm. The internet major was followed by US-based private equity firms Vista and KKR, and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, each of which took a 2.32 per cent stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crore. Mr Ambani had announced the target of making the group net-debt free at Reliance Industries' 42nd annual general meeting in August 2019, saying the group has "a very clear road map" to make it happen within the next 18 months.

"Reliance In Golden Decade": Mukesh Ambani's Group Becomes Net Debt-Free

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