NE BUSINESS BUREAU
MUMBAI, JUNE 13
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Jio Platforms Limited on Saturday said they have sold 0.93 percent stake in Jio to global alternative asset firm TPG for Rs 4,546.80 crore, taking the cumulative fundraising to over Rs 1.02 lakh crore that will help pare debt at the oil-to-telecom conglomerate.
With this ninth investment in seven weeks, Jio Platforms has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore in the largest continuous funds raise by a company anywhere in the world.
“TPG will invest Rs 4,546.80 crore in Jio Platforms at an equity value of Rs 4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore,” the company said in a statement.
The investment will translate into a 0.93 percent equity stake in Jio Platforms on a fully diluted basis for TPG.
“With this investment, Jio Platforms has raised Rs 1,02,432.45 crore from leading global technology investors including Facebook, Silver Lake, Vista Equity Partners, General Atlantic, KKR, Mubadala, ADIA, and TPG since April 22, 2020,” it said.
The deal book was opened with Facebook picking up a 9.99 percent stake in the firm that houses India’s youngest but largest telecom firm on April 22 for Rs 43,574 crore.
Within days of that deal, Silver Lake – the world’s largest tech investor – bought a 1.15 percent stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 5,665.75 crore on May 4.
On May 8, US-based Vista Equity Partners bought a 2.32 percent stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crore.
Global equity firm General Atlantic on May 17 picked up a 1.34 percent stake in Jio Platforms for Rs 6,598.38 crore. This was followed by US private equity giant KKR buying 2.32 percent for Rs 11,367 crore.
Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment picked up 1.85 percent in Jio Platforms for Rs 9,093.60 crore on June 5. On that day, private equity fund Silver Lake invested another Rs 4,546.80 crore for an additional 0.93 percent stake in Jio Platforms.
Also, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has taken a 1.16 percent equity stake in Jio Platforms.
With these investments, Reliance has sold about 22 percent equity in Jio Platforms ahead of a potential IPO.
TPG is a leading global alternative asset firm founded in 1992 with more than the US $79 billion of assets under management across a wide range of asset classes, including private equity, growth equity, real estate, and public equity.
Over TPG”s more than 25-year history, the firm has built an ecosystem made up of hundreds of portfolio companies and a value-added network of professionals, executives, and advisors around the world. Its investments in global technology companies include Airbnb, Uber, and Spotify, among others.
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said, “Today, I am happy to welcome TPG as valued investors in our continued efforts towards digitally empowering the lives of Indians through the creation of a digital ecosystem. We have been impressed by TPG”s track record of investing in global technology businesses which serve hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses, making the societies we live in better”.
TPG is making the investment from its TPG Capital Asia, TPG Growth, and TPG Tech Adjacencies (TTAD) funds.
Commenting on this, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, said, “Today, I am happy to welcome TPG as valued investors in our continued efforts towards digitally empowering the lives of Indians through the creation of a digital ecosystem. We have been impressed by TPG’s track record of investing in global technology businesses that serve hundreds of millions of consumers and small businesses, making the societies we live in better.”
“We are excited to partner Reliance to invest in Jio. As an investor in growth, change, and innovation for over 25 years – and with a longstanding presence in India – we are excited to play an early role in Jio’s journey as they continue to transform and advance India’s digital economy.
“Jio is a disruptive industry leader that is empowering small businesses and consumers across India by providing them with critical, high-quality digital services. The company is bringing unmatched potential and execution capabilities to the market, setting the tone for all technology companies to come,” TPG Co-CEO Jim Coulter said.
