MAM
Reliance plans to raise $6bn for consumer biz
MUMBAI: Reliance Industries Ltd has planned to raise about Rs 40,000 crore ($5.8 billion) in fresh debt for expansion of its consumer business, according to a Bloomberg report. The Mukesh Ambani-led company will raise funds through loans and bonds, mostly in the Indian currency.
The refining-to-retail conglomerate holds shareholder approval to raise as much as Rs 20,000 crore through non-convertible debentures. Because of the company’s new telecom venture along with its traditional petrochemical business total debt has tripled in the past five years.
A part of the company’s investment this year will go for the roll out of newly announce fibre-broadband services. It will invest on acquisitions, including the purchase of telecom assets from Anil Ambani’s Reliance Communications Ltd. The company has agreed to pay about Rs 173 billion to purchase spectrum, mobile-phone towers and fiber assets from Reliance Communications.
According to data by Bloomberg, the company has total borrowings of about 2.2 trillion rupees currently. More than half of this debt has to be repaid by 2022. “Reliance needs funds to refinance existing long-term debt or replace short-term debt with longer tenors, and to fund its announced acquisitions,” Somshankar Sinha, a Mumbai-based analyst at Jefferies India said as quoted by Bloomberg.
After tapping the rupee bond market four times already this year Unit Reliance Jio on Tuesday sought bids to raise Rs 1500 crore via three-year notes.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
