RIL Set To Win the Bid to Install CCTV Cameras in Mumbai

A RIL (Reliance Industries Limited)led consortium is set to bag an important project of installing CCTV cameras at all the major traffic junctions in Mumbai. This project worth 1000 croreenvisaged by the Maharashtra Government will comprise installing of around 6000 CCTV cameras across the city. It will also include setting up of data servers in places like the National Stock Exchange and the Bhabha Atomic Research Center. This will be the first significant internal security deal endowed to a private sector. This pioneering project gainedground after the terrorist attacks on 26/11 in the country’s financial capital.

Approved by state chief secretary RatnakarGaikwad, the state government intends to buy 6000 CCTV cameras so that they can use the present 400 to integrate into the network. The cameras will facilitatepulling together real time videos from the cameras placed at a distance and broadcast video footage. With the help of optical fibernetwork, a video uplink will be created to the control room that comprises of various workstation PCs that have specialist application software in them.

The consortium included all the major IT service providers including Allied Digital Services, IBM, Cisco and RIL. Seven were shortlisted from a group of 10 consortiachoseninitially. Two bidders qualified where RIL has increasedchances of winning the deal since it emerged as the lowest bidder on Thursday. These surveillance cameras will make vigilance easy and effective in Mumbai that has been vulnerable to terrorist attacks since 1993. RIL has also affirmed that it will augment its broadband network in order to shore up to the homeland security applications and services.

VivekLall, CEO of RIL’s homeland security and aerospace segment is a former NASA scientist who has supervised Boeing’s military and commercial division in our country previously. RIlgained entrée in this business by roping in Lall who is an American scientist of an Indian origin. This conglomerate had previously collaborated with Dassault Aviation that is a foremost player in the aerospace industry on an international level,to engage in deliberated opportunities that cater to key manufacturing and support in India. RIL aspires to gain momentum in this division where it can churn out advanced security solutions. In a joint venture with Siemens AG, an engineering company with its origin in Germany, it proposed to create smart security solutions that can strengthen the country’s safety and security.

India’s security industry is booming and has appealed to the chief private sectors including the multinationals in the country. The security industry in India is estimated to be a$16-billion market in the next ten years.

Reliance Foundation revitalizes corporatephilanthropy

Reliance Foundation is an initiative by RIL (Reliance Industries Limited) to support growth and development that leadsto betterment in society. It caters to five core pillars including rural transformation, education, health, urban renewal and arts, culture and heritage. The aim of this foundation is to churn out meaningful and constructive activities that will procreate progress and enable the country to overcome some major developmental challenges.

Reliance BIJ that stands for “Bharat India Jodo” focuses on abridging the gap between rural and urban India by introducing paramount practices that can foster productivity among small-scale farmers. This program at presentstirs growth in nine major states and gears to extend to all the villages and agricultural zones in the country. Reliance Knowledge for Sustainable Development(RK4SD) is another distinguished initiative that aims to create awareness about leveraging theefficiency of farmers, anglers and other micro enterprises. By organizing VFA (Villagers Farmers Association) and PC (Producer Company), they enablegrouping of farmers and provide financial assistance to them in order to support their activities.

Reliance Foundation endeavorsto provide education to around 15, 000 children across 12 schools in the country. It aims to raise the bar of educational standards in the country by granting special educational opportunities to children in rural areas,deprived of quality education. It has also propelled the establishmentof the Reliance Instituteof Technology in Jamnagar and Reliance Polytechnic in Dwarka in partnership with the Gujarat Government.

By building a tertiary care hospital that meets the international standards in terms of medical facilities, Reliance Foundation will facilitate medical treatment to the underprivileged. Besides, Reliance Drishti is a commendable initiative that it thrusts along with the support of the National Associationof the Blind that enlightens the life of the visuallyimpaired by conducting over 10,000 corneal transplants, free of charge. It also launched the first registered national Braille newspaper in Hindi that will be distributed to impart knowledge to around 25, 000 visually challenged individuals.

Reliance Foundation also sponsors Real Heroes that acknowledges and applauds ordinary Indians who do extraordinary things. This year they honored24 real heroes who have accomplished in producing radical changes in varied fields including women empowerment,child welfare, sports, environment, youth, health and disability and sports.

Reliance Foundation intends to be the preeminent philanthropicorganization in the world in the forthcoming years.

Reliance Industries opts for Phillips 66’s E-Gas™ Technology for its gasification project

Reliance Industries Limited affirms its opting for Phillips 66’s (NYSE: PSX) E-Gas™ Technology for its gasification plants at Jamnagar today.

RIL will use the E-Gas™ Technology licensed by Philips 66 for the planned gasification plants at Jamnagar that is the largest in the world. The E-Gas™ Technology is one of the most competent and cleanest technologies that have been employed in commercial applications since the year of 1987. The gasification system that this technology encompasses is distinctive in nature as it can be used to produce electric power as well as hydrogen, chemicals or natural gas. While electric power can be produced by applying gas with steam turbine combined cycle, hydrogen can be produced by synthesis gas applications using this technology. It is highly suitable for producing coal, syngas and coke based electric power. The best part is that it uses minimal water and emits fewer pollutants.

Rix Bennett, President, Specialist and Business Development at Phillips 66 announced that he would consider this an opportunity to work with Reliance on the largest gasification project in the world. He ensures that their technology will be used to produce clean and reliable energy for Reliance‘s operations catering to its refinery and petrochemical plants. Philips 66 will render technical support and provide process-engineering design with respect to the gasification technology processing area for the same.

With an aggregate refining capacity of 1.3 million barrels of oil per day, the Jamnagar site owned by Reliance is the largest refining complex in the world. The synthesis gas produced using this technology will be used as a raw material for a chemical complex other than providing mileage to its present gas turbine units.

RIL plays a leading role in the petrochemical sector of the country where its key operations cater to energy, refining and petrochemicals. RIL with a market value of $ 55 billion endeavors to leap towards global leadership. The Jamnagar petrochemical complex is spread over 7400 acres and is known to have a complexity index of 11.3. It eggs on the latest and the finest technology in the world making it the largest grassroots refinery and petrochemical hub in the world.

RIL lands $2bln loan from 9 German banks backed by Euler Holmes

The petrochemical expansion project of RIL (Reliance Industries Limited) at Jamnagar, Dahej, Silvassa and Hazira earned its wings with nine German banks offering a loan of $ 2 billion. Euler Hermes Duestchland AG covered this long-term loan on 7th May, 2012 at Berlin in Germany. The primary aim of this Reliance Industries German loan will be to provide funds for goods and services provided by German suppliers that to be used in the petrochemical expansion project.

RIL, India’s largest private sector entity, announced in its filing to the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) that this is among the largest underwriting by Euler Hermes. Besides, it has been the first company to be honored with a ‘Better than Sovereign’ rating by Euler Hermes. With a door-to-door maturity of 13 years, this long-term debt can be perceived as a cost-effective one. The strong ties, this conglomerate shares with international banks is reflected by the deal gaining 50% over subscription. This deal will effectively facilitate the funding for variegate plans of RIL. IPEX-Bank GmbH, Nord LB, Banco Santander, Ladensbank, Baden-Wurttemberg, Commerzbank AG, Citibank, DZ BANK AG, BHF-BANK AG and ING Bankare the nine banks to finance the deal.

The annual report of RIL reflects its effective liability management where it reduces the cost of debt by imbibing finances at low cost rates. The capital accumulated in FY2011-12 at an all time low costs with subsidized interest rates enabled it to reduce the cost of debt in a cogent way that year. With external commercial borrowings of $1.09 billion, RIL refinanced its loan lucratively.

V Srikanth, Joint Chief Financial Officer of RIL, stated that they were pleased with landmark financing backed by Euler Hermes. Thanking the German banking institutions for this massive support, he also expressed his delight for the ‘Better than sovereign’ ranking by Euler Hermes for their powerful credit sharing in the international platform.

The refining and petrochemical sector can witness a threshold of advancement and progress in the next 4-5 years with RIL announcing its investment of US$12 bln in this sphere. The major part of this investment over US$4 bln will be involved in the production of synthetic natural gas that will serve as an effective alternative to pricey LNG as a fuel. It will also work on leveraging its present capacities of PET, PFY, chemicals such as paraxylene, PTA, and polyester. The RIL expansion project also aims to add products like carbon black and rubber.

The total debt of RIL accounts to Rs 68,259 crore according to its annual statement of the financial year ended March 31, 2012. On the other hand, its assets amounted to Rs 70,252 during this period making it the largest company by market value.

Reliance Retail to pull in fresh investment from RIL after a year

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the largest private sector in the country has always catered to expanding its realm of activities. Its investment in the Reliance Digital segment last year providesmomentum to its objective of expansion and innovation, manifestingits long- sightednessapproach towards its business.

RIL infused Rs. 5,027 crorein Reliance Retail Ltd in fiscal year 2012, based on its 2011-2012 annual report. Previously, its investment in the partially paid up shares of the Retail segment accounted forRs. 1,220 crorein the year of 2009-2010. Reliance Digital stores had been on the top of the headlinesfor its massive store expansion in the last financial year ending March 2012. Its store count increased three times extending itself to the four corners of the country and doubled at anaverage every year since the time of its launch.

The annual report of RIL mentioned that the prime focus of Reliance was to provide impetus to its back- end operations and spread out by increasing the number of stores across value and speciality formats in the country.

SaloniNangia, President at TechnopakAdvisors said, “It is necessary to understand the scope of utilizationof this large investment, whether it has been used for augmenting its supply chain or for increasing its area of operations in the country.” Technospak Advisors isa retail-consulting firm.

RIL believes that the retail sector in the country is booming and is set to grow to around Rs. 36 trillion, i.e. $675 billion over the next four years. At present, the retail business in India is estimated to be around $470 billion. WithReliance Retail business witnessing losses in the FY2012, the fresh investment was necessary.

However,thisconglomerate observed a positiveFY2012with its collective losses in the 34 retail entities lowering to around Rs. 434 crore.The losses in the FY10 werecomparatively higher accounting to Rs. Rs. 491.40 crore.

Nangiaalso mentioned that RIL has changed its formats in the retail sector thrice in the past six years. Besides, it has been astutely taking its decisions considering reworking on a few arenas that demanded corrective actions. It has also taken special care to formulate a strong management team by hiring Rob Cissel who serves as the chief executive of Reliance Retail’s Value Format and Shawn Gray,the present chief operations officer. Rob Cissel and Shawn Gray have previously served as the executives at the Chinese Arm of Walmart Stores Inc. They will spearhead around 700 stores that cater to this format including Reliance Mart, Delight, Autozone, Reliance Superior, and Reliance Fresh.Several significant steps were taken in order to increase its efficiency including the consolidation of its six loss making subsidiaries into Reliance Fresh.

Reliance Gems and Jewels Ltd is the first RIL’s retail format to capitalize and announce its net profit. Reliance HypermartLtd, Reliance Supply Chain Solutions Ltd, Reliance Vantage Retail Ltd, Reliance Home Store Ltd, Reliance Leisures Ltd are some of its retail arms that are performing satisfactorily tapering their losses considerably.

Though the Retail concept of RIL has been witnessing losses presently, it will not hinder itsplans or its operations.Reliance Retail will be able to overcome these challenges in overtime paving way for strong retail base in the country, Nangia said.

Reliance Digital’s new store launch in Bengaluru on its 5th anniversary

Reliance Digital turns five this year with its first store launched in 2007. Reliance Digital is leaving no stone unturned to bring in this special occasion and make its customers feel very special.

To begin with, Reliance Digital has announced the launch of a new store at Indiranagar in Bengaluru on 12thMay, 2012 following the success of its present stores. With the launch of this swanky store, the number of stores in Bengaluru is now 14.

There has been a steady increase in the number of Reliance Digital stores in the country since its launch with its store count increasing three times in FY11-12.

Besides, Reliance Digital also rolls out a special initiative possible for consumers to pay for the products they buy in 18 EMI’s (Equated Monthly Installments). The best part is that there is no notion of Interest levied on consumers while paying via EMI’s. This means consumers can pay the same amount spread across 18 EMI’s making it easy and affordable for consumers to get hold of the finest brands.

The Consumer Durables and Electronic Arm of RIL (Reliance Industries Limited) is renowned for the variety of products its houses. Known as the value oriented retail chain, it is determined to offer the best technology at the least possible prices along with consumer friendly services.

About Reliance Digital

Reliance Digital is the consumer durables and information technology concept from Reliance Retail. Reliance Digital seeks to fulfill the dream of every Indian, be it through its nationwide network of conveniently located stores or through its presence on the web, by providing a delightful shopping experience of products & solutions and helping them bring home the latest & best in technology from the widest selection at the lowest assured price with complete peace of mind through lifelong support.

With over 200 international and national brands and over 4000 products at amazing prices, Reliance Digital has the largest display of models to help you find the right solution that fits your lifestyle. The range at Reliance Digital spans Audio and Video products (LED, LCD & Plasma TVs, DVD players, Home Theatres), Digital Cameras, Durables like, Air Conditioners, Refrigerators, Water Purifiers, Kitchen and Home Appliances, Gaming Consoles and Games, Computers and Peripherals, Mobiles and Fixed line instruments,

At Reliance Digital, you get to touch, try and feel every product before you make your decision. The specially designed Experience Zones (for high-end entertainment systems like home theatres, televisions, home and car music systems) simulate exact conditions to familiarize you with your product. The trained staff will be only too happy to understand and advise on the optimum choice of products meeting your needs. What more, Reliance Digital is backed by Reliance ResQ, the service arm that is available for support all 7 days and fully geared to provide end to end solutions. For more information, log on to www.reliancedigital.in

About Reliance Retail Limited

Reliance Retail Limited (RRL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited opened its first retail store in November 2006 and today operates more than 1,000 stores in over 86 cities, spanning 14 states and serving over 2.5 million customers every week. RRL is a multi-format retailer that operates

“Reliance Market – a concept for local traders and small businesses ” Reliance Fresh – a neighborhood store concept

” Reliance Super- a super mart concept

” Reliance Mart – a hyper market concept

” Delight – a non vegetarian offering

” Reliance Digital – a consumer durables and information technology concept

” iStore by Reliance Digital- an Apple specialty store concept

” Reliance Trends – an apparel specialty concept

” Reliance Footprint -a footwear concept

” Reliance Jewels – a jewellery concept

” Reliance TimeOut- a books, music & entertainment concept

” Reliance Living – a Furniture, Furnishing, Homeware and Home kitchen concept

” Reliance AutoZone – an automotive specialty concept

About Reliance Industries Limited

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is India’s largest private sector company on all major financial parameters with a turnover of INR 339,792 crore (US$ 66.8 billion), cash profit of INR 31,994 crore (US$ 6.3 billion) and net profit of INR 20,040 crore (US$ 3.9 billion) as of March 31, 2012.

RIL is the first private sector company from India to feature in the Fortune Global 500 list of ‘World’s Largest Corporations’ and ranks 119th amongst the world’s Top 200 companies in terms of profits. RIL ranks 68th in the Financial ‘Times FT Global 500’ list of the world’s largest companies. RIL is ranked amongst the ’50 Most Innovative Companies – 2010′ in the World in a survey conducted by the US financial publication – Business Week in collaboration with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In 2010, BCG also ranked RIL as the second highest ‘Sustainable Value Creators’ for creating the most shareholder value over the decade in the world.

Reliance looks at expansion,to strengthen its petrochemical and polymer sector

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the pioneer in petrochemical industry shall further resume new major projects over the span of 4-5 years. While these huge projectsdemand a colossal amount of capital expenditure, RIL has plans to innovate and expand further. All these projects are seen as long- term ones and may keep the cash reserves of the company occupied.

The refining and petrochemical segment of RIL will have an investment of $ 12 billion in the forthcoming years. The operating cash inflows will be sufficient to support this investment and will not have any impacts on its debt levels.

Its petroleum coke gasification project will introduce syngas that will come as asuitable replacement to LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) that is highly expensive. With an investment of $ 4 billion,RIL will produce syngas that is a combination of hydrogen and nitrogen.

According to Credit Suisse’spost earnings report on this, the Mukesh Ambani led conglomerates operational gasifiers can reckon up the $3 per barrel to the refinery GRM (Gross Refining Margin) entailing $1.3 billion to gross refining earnings.

With the petrochemical and the polymer industry in the country appearing to be optimistic at present, RIL augments its potentials in these sectors including polyester, PFY, PET and its other channels. It also plans to infix new product lines such as rubber and carbon black.

The polymer demand in India has tremendousgrowth potential and is equivalent to 1.2 to 1.4 times the GDP growth rate. The 7.8 MMTPA of the country’s polymer market has potentials to get biggerin the next five years with over 12 MMTPA. Owing to the increase in the income level and its consequence on our lifestyle and that we are witnessing, there are high chances of it assisting this growth scale.

The declining level of present supply ofkey petrochemicals in the country will lead to increase in the import levels further in years to come. Similarly, the world average per consumption of polymer is significantly higher than Indian per capita consumption of the same. Thus, there is a need to work on these sectors considering these factors and fix it up.

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch in their reports have mapped the timeline for the implementation of these projectsindicating the operational works on PET in 2013 andPFY to be carried in the latter half of FY 13. RIL will astir the working on PTA in two stages where the first stage will commence from July until around July 2014 subsequent to Paraxylene that may continue from 2014 to around 2015.Thus, all these projects can be clearly claimed as long term projects entailing a period of around 4-5 years. In the long run, these expansion projects can turn out to be highly promising strengthening the bottom- line of RIL and can even benefit the value of the shares in a period of time for the shareholders.

There are chances that RIL’s EBITDA may increase two fold by 2016-2017, with all these expansion projects without any significant increase in its net debt levels based on the Credit Suisse Report.

RIL Contributes to Dahej Getting its New Hospital

Dahej will have its own new modernized hospital with all updated features sponsored by Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and state government together. This 50-bed hospital will be operational from November 2013. It will be built and operated by Dahej Health& Welfare Society, which is a joint formation of RIL and the State government. BB Swain who serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) will be spearheading all the activities in this society.

This new hospital at Dahej will bring up to the code, health and medical development in the city, which has been lackluster for a while. Irrespective of the tremendous industrial development that Dahej has been witnessing, there was only a primary health centre during emergencies. Besides, one had to travel 45 Km to Bharuch, with it being the nearest place with first- rate hospitals, to be treated. Below Poverty line (BPL) families will be availed of free treatment from this hospital at Dahej. Besides, patients who are registered at the primary health care centre can benefit from treatment, as it will be made available to them at nominal prices, being subsidized by upto 70%.

This Reliance Dahej 50-bed hospital will procure all necessary upgraded features and will have five doctors including a surgeon, orthopedic, physician, gynecologist and a general practitioner. There will be special care taken to pander to burn cases. This hospital at Dahej will also cater to places that are nearby. It may also work to organize mobile services and camps that may benefit a major section of the population and create awareness in the society.

Sushil Kumar, President of Dahej Industries Association has stated that RIL had offered Rs10 crore to Dahej Health and Welfare Society for the maintenance cost of this project. The 9000 square metre land for the hospital is granted by GIDC.

Reliance Industries Limited has participated and sponsored varied philanthropic activities that have benefited scores of people in the country. Reliance Foundation was specially incorporated to support various non – profit organizations that work towards create betterment of the society. One of the most noteworthy ones was the initiation of ‘Project Bij’ for supporting small farming communities by providing technical assistance and enabling them to market it appropriately. BIJ stands for Bhara India Jodo and aims to encourage and assist farmers and enable them to overcome their problems, with the country being prone to a huge number of farmer suicides.

Reliance Streamlines Finances, Becomes Debt-Free!

It might have seemed extremely difficult for everybody including shareholders to keep up with Mukesh Ambani’s promise of making RIL debt – free ten months back. Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) is debt free today with a colossal cash balance of Rs.70,252 crore that it has attained this fiscal year ended 31st March, 2012. While its outstanding debt was known to have been Rs. 68,259 crore that accounts to USD 13.4 billion, its cash balance of over Rs 70,252 crore enabled it to be debt – free. While its cash balance last year accounted for Rs. 42, 393 crore, its outstanding debt was comparatively higher amounting to Rs 67,397 crore.

The financial report of RIL this fiscal ended March 31, 2012 gave the conglomerate reasons to cheer. The gearing level increased in comparison to the fiscal ended March 31, 2011, which stood at 13.5%. There were significant growths that RIL witnessed this year in comparison with last year including the highest ever exports of Rs. 208,042 Crore. The consolidated net profit this year is reported to be Rs 19,724 crore and its turnover rose to Rs 339,792 crore increasing by 31.4% that is the highest ever it has ever achieved. However, its net profit for the fourth quarter dropped by 21% to Rs 4,236 crore. The primary investment of this company catered to fixed deposits, certificate of deposits with banks, Government securities and mutual funds.

Mukesh Ambani was known to be delighted about his company‘s strong investment in the mainstay petrochemical business in India and initiating strong base for further growth. When asked to comment about their retail expansion that had made news recently, he stated that the responses they have been receiving from the retail sector have been highly optimistic and they would further endeavor to expand by building more stores across verticals in different places in varied formats. While they are gearing towards the launch of 4G technology, he announced that they would be committed towards providing high-speed wireless data that will be at par with international standards. Since India has a huge potential for wireless market, their broadband services are capable of augmenting their overall growth at a higher level.

Mukesh Ambani is known to be the second richest man in Asia as of 2012 and RIL is the forerunner company of Reliance group that is a leading private sector in the country.

RIL gears towards 4G and plans to set up around One Lakh towers

While everybody is waiting with bated breath to experience 4G, Reliance Industries Ltd has already concocted its plan of setting up over 1,00,000 towers for handling these operations in the next three years to come. However, this move can disappoint scores of telecom operators who would have wished to be associated with RIL for the same as they plan to use their own passive infrastructure for the same by withdrawing from its ‘asset light ‘model.

The first phase of this wireless broadband project would involve its leasing around 26, 000 towers which have already attracted bids from varied tower operators. According to some sources, they have already set the ball rolling by looking out for quotes and samples for their carbon fire telecom towers from equipment vendors. With this change of plan, the outlay for their launch will double itself from the one previously settled on i.e. It may increase from $ 4 billion in 2010 to $ 8 -9 billion now.

It is also known that RIL will rent towers from the existing companies other than using its own, in case it is not able to build 1,00,000 towers according to its estimation.RIL ventured into the telecom sector after five years with the dissolution of the non- compete agreement. At present, it owns 95% stake in Infotel Broadband for which it had to pay a whopping amount of Rs. 4800 Crore. In addition, it had to also pay Rs 12,848 Crore for 20 MHz of spectrum to service 22 circles in the country, thus being the only company to do so.

Its opting for carbon towers seems to be a sensible decision as it might reduce its maintenance and base equipment needs. Besides, it is also eco- friendly and grants ease during relocation. However, they may be 25-40% more expensive than the conventional steel ones that are used. These towers have higher possibilities of being set in urban areas due to the demand being higher in these areas initially, owing to the awareness created about the same here. The present overcapacityin the towermarket is known to go down owing to the recent Supreme Court order and a few other existing companies shutting its operation owing to the poor tenacity level it has witnessed.

Indus towers has been the present largest tower company with its possession of around1,10,000 towers. With this plan put toimplementation, RIL has high chances of giving a stiff competition to Indus towers in the forthcoming years.