How & why Mukesh Ambani will define India in 2012
2012 is the big year for Ambani's 4G telecom venture, a project that the company has been working on for almost a year.
By ET Bureau | Updated:
Mukesh Ambani
54 years, Chairman & MD, Reliance Industries
Sector: Corporate
Career Milestones:
In 2002, RIL announced the world’s biggest gas discovery in KG Basin.
In 2008, he set up the world’s largest refinery in Jamnagar.
In 2011, he inked a $7-bn deal with BP even as KG Basin find ran into trouble.
Because he has some big-bang diversification plans up his sleeve: Reliance Industries is likely to accumulate a Rs 1.25 lakh crore cash pile by March. Its foray into high-speed internet services, likely to shake up the telecom industry, will become clearer in the coming months. But there are issues that demand Ambani’s attention: the oil and gas business is suffering from production challenges and investors are likely to breathe down his neck demanding solutions. And there’s the brother question: will Anil be part of his plans?
Hi 2011:
Inked a $7.2-billion deal with British Petroleum for a 30% stake in 23 RIL oil and gas blocks.
RIL’s stock price dropped after fall in gas output from the D6 basin.
What next:
2012 is the big year for Ambani’s 4G telecom venture, a project that the company has been working on for almost a year. Initial reports indicate that the company is likely to kick-start with low-cost 4G services on tablets. Such a project would require a massive rollout and capital expenditure. Market analysts don’t rule out a foray in the financial services space through an acquisition or two.
Mukesh is a Bollywood fan and has a huge collection of movies. But he does not plan to enter the movie business like brother Anil Ambani.
Who else: Gautam Adani
49 years, Chairman, Adani Group
2012 will test one of India’s fastest-growing conglomerate’s ability to grow at a robust pace. The past year was a mixed bag for the Adani Group. In May, it spent $2 billion for a 99-year lease of Abbot Port in Queensland, Australia. A couple of months later, Adani Enterprises was named in the Karnataka Lokayukta report on illegal mining in the state, a charge the company has denied. Since then, its port expansion plans have also hit speed-bumps as security clearances have been delayed. Since the beginning of 2011, the group’s m-cap has plunged by more than 60%. Will 2012 be bounce-back time?
54 years, Chairman & MD, Reliance Industries
Sector: Corporate
Career Milestones:
In 2002, RIL announced the world’s biggest gas discovery in KG Basin.
In 2008, he set up the world’s largest refinery in Jamnagar.
In 2011, he inked a $7-bn deal with BP even as KG Basin find ran into trouble.
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Why him:Because he has some big-bang diversification plans up his sleeve: Reliance Industries is likely to accumulate a Rs 1.25 lakh crore cash pile by March. Its foray into high-speed internet services, likely to shake up the telecom industry, will become clearer in the coming months. But there are issues that demand Ambani’s attention: the oil and gas business is suffering from production challenges and investors are likely to breathe down his neck demanding solutions. And there’s the brother question: will Anil be part of his plans?
Hi 2011:
Inked a $7.2-billion deal with British Petroleum for a 30% stake in 23 RIL oil and gas blocks.
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Announced entry into insurance by buying out Bharti’s stake in the Bharti-Axa joint venture. The deal fell through.RIL’s stock price dropped after fall in gas output from the D6 basin.
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Mumbai Indians, Ambani’s IPL team, won the Champions League finals.What next:
2012 is the big year for Ambani’s 4G telecom venture, a project that the company has been working on for almost a year. Initial reports indicate that the company is likely to kick-start with low-cost 4G services on tablets. Such a project would require a massive rollout and capital expenditure. Market analysts don’t rule out a foray in the financial services space through an acquisition or two.
Mukesh is a Bollywood fan and has a huge collection of movies. But he does not plan to enter the movie business like brother Anil Ambani.
Who else: Gautam Adani
49 years, Chairman, Adani Group
2012 will test one of India’s fastest-growing conglomerate’s ability to grow at a robust pace. The past year was a mixed bag for the Adani Group. In May, it spent $2 billion for a 99-year lease of Abbot Port in Queensland, Australia. A couple of months later, Adani Enterprises was named in the Karnataka Lokayukta report on illegal mining in the state, a charge the company has denied. Since then, its port expansion plans have also hit speed-bumps as security clearances have been delayed. Since the beginning of 2011, the group’s m-cap has plunged by more than 60%. Will 2012 be bounce-back time?
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