Reliance Retail aims to double borrowing limit to `1 lakh crore

Reliance Retail Ltd has sought shareholders' approval for doubling its borrowing limit to Rs 1 lakh crore.

The proposal will be put up before the shareholders during the company's Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on September 30.

In September last year, the shareholders had approved borrowing a sum not exceeding Rs 50,000 crore.

During its meeting on May 5, 2022, the company's board proposed to increase the borrowing limit "by a sum not exceeding Rs 1,00,000 crore".

With the increased limit, the company can borrow money from time to time, at its discretion, for the purpose of its business, according to the AGM notice.

As on March 31, 2022 Reliance Retail's gross debt was at Rs 40,756.44 crore.

At Reliance Industries' AGM last month, it was announced that Reliance Retail would enter FMCG segment.

In FY22, Reliance had invested Rs 30,000 crore (around USD 3.76 billion) in its retail business and added 2,500 stores, taking the total store count to 15,196.

According to Reliance Retail's latest annual report, the Indian retail market has been one of the most resilient in the world during the pandemic period, making a strong recovery when limitations were lifted.

The sector's core growth fundamentals continue to be strong. Rapid digitalisation and the introduction of breakthrough technologies have opened up new growth opportunities which would further boost long-term market prospects, it said.

"Reliance Retail will continue with its journey of bringing best in-class products and services to consumers across the length and breadth of the country by further expanding its presence through physical stores and digital commerce platforms offering best of global and local brands and partnering with small producers and merchants...," it added.