Indian Oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries is offering to sell a roughly $20-billion stake in its retail arm to Amazon.com Inc, billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance is willing to sell an up to 40 per cent stake in the retail business to Amazon, According to Report’s
Shares in Reliance were up 4 per cent in midday trading in Mumbai. The company earlier on Thursday became the first listed Indian firm to cross $200 billion in market capitalization.
Amazon has held talks about investing in Reliance Retail and expressed interest in negotiating potential deals, according to the report.
The news follows a $1 billion investment announced Wednesday by Silver Lake Partners in Reliance Retail, which runs more than 10,000 stores selling apparel, groceries and electronics across India.
Amazon did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Reliance did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
Reliance Industries has been aggressively building its retail business as it looks to attract potential investors over the next few quarters.
Expanding its footprint into the country’s retail sector, Reliance Industries purchased the retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing businesses of Future Group for Rs 24,713 crore last month.
In May, Reliance Industries launched Jio Mart, an online grocery service in a move aimed at rivaling Amazon’s local unit and Walmart’s Flipkart in the huge market.
