Reliance Retail Raises INR 3.6K Cr From General Atlantic To Boost Its Digital Dream

After bidding on Jio Platforms, General Atlantic has committed to invest INR 3,675 Cr in Reliance Industries’ retail unit Reliance Retail in exchange for 0.84% equity stake on a fully diluted basis. Reliance Retail has been valued at a pre money equity value of INR 4.285 Lakh Cr.

General Atlantic had invested INR 6,600 Cr ($870 Mn), back in May 2020, at an equity value of INR 4.91 Lakh Cr and an enterprise value of INR 5.16 Lakh Cr. The deal translated into a 1.34% equity stake in Jio Platform on a fully diluted basis.

General Atlantic was founded in 1980 by billionaire Charles F Feeney, who is also the cofounder of Duty Free Shoppers. The investment firm provides capital and strategic support to growth companies across healthcare, ecommerce, internet, financial services, IT, enterprise software, and retail sectors, among others.

The company has had over 374 growth investments overall, and has over $35 Bn assets under management. Its portfolio includes tech giants like AppsFlyer, Facebook, Airbnb, ANT Group, Snapchat, Syska LED Lights, ByteDance, Slack and Uber. In India, it has invested in NoBrokers, Unacademy, BYJU’s and Housing.com.

Commenting on the investment, Reliance’s chairperson and managing director, Mukesh Ambani, said, “Like Reliance Retail, General Atlantic believes in the fundamental ability of digital enablement to drive progress, growth, and inclusion across India and the world.” Further, he said that Reliance Retail will leverage General Atlantic’s experience as an investor in India and expertise at the intersection of technology and consumer businesses to create a disruptive “New Commerce” platform to redefine retail in the country.

Bill Ford, CEO of General Atlantic, said, “General Atlantic is thrilled to be backing Mukesh’s New Commerce mission to drive substantial positive change in the country’s retail sector, which goes hand-in-hand with his vision to enable a Digital India through the work of Jio Platforms. General Atlantic shares Reliance Industries’ foundational belief in the power of technology to foster transformative growth, and we are excited by the immense potential of the full Reliance ecosystem.”

Besides General Atlantic, other two reliance investors Silver Lake and KKR have also bid on Reliance Retail. Silver Lake has invested INR 7,500 Cr in Reliance Retail for a 1.75% stake at a pre-money equity value of INR 4.21 lakh Cr. Meanwhile, KKR invested INR 5,550 Cr in the company for 1.38% equity stake.

According to media reports, Reliance Retail is in talks to raise $1 Bn from Middle Eastern sovereign fund Mubadala, and $20 Bn from Amazon for a 40% stake.