Now, TPG looks to join Jio juggernaut with billion dollar bet

MUMBAI - US-based TPG Capital, is in active discussions with Jio Platforms as investors seek to buy Mukesh Ambani's telecom-technology-commerce triple play, said people in the know. If a deal happens, TPG would join bulge-bracket American private equity peers  KKR, Silver Lake and General Atlantic, in picking up a stake in the Reliance Industries unit.

TPG is an investor in several major global technology disruptions such as Uber, Airbnb, and SurveyMonkey.

The PE fund, known primarily for leveraged buyouts, has been in talks for the past few weeks, and is expected to be nearing a deal that might see it invest $ 1-1.2 billion,  said the people mentioned earlier. Someone said the investment could be as high as $1.5 billion.

An official announcement is expected in the coming days.

TPG declined to comment. Mails to Jio did not generate any response till press time Wednesday.

Jio Platforms has already raised <Rupee> 97,885.65 crores (approximately $ 13 billion) by diluting a 21% stake through eight transactions in seven weeks to a  host of strategic and financial investors, starting with Facebook.

With 388 million subscribers, telecom business has become the engine of RIL’s growth, helping -  along with the group's fast-growing retail business, to offset the decline in oil and petrochemicals, the legacy cash cows.

Besides Facebook and buyout funds like KKR, middle-eastern sovereign funds such as Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA)  have joined Jio  Platforms fund-raising juggernaut.

With the latest ADIA investment, which was announced last Friday, Jio Platforms is valued at Rs. 4.91 lakh crore, excluding debt and liabilities.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is also engaged with Jio platforms to invest $ 1.5 billion and is expected to finalize negotiations in 7-10 days.

In addition to modern technology and Internet unicorns, the Texas headquartered buyout Fund has backed or bought several pure-play technology businesses such as McAfee, First Data, Freescale Semiconductor, Avaya, Box, and WindRiver. 

RIL may Sell 9% More in Jio Platforms

In 2019, TPG garnered $ 1.6 billion for its TPG Tech Adjacencies, a new investment tool focused on capital solutions for the technology industry.

In February this year, its seventh Asian fund, TPG Capital Asia VII, raised $ 4.6 billion.

In India, TPG has deployed more than $ 2 billion since setting up shop in the early 2000s  across sectors such as financial services, retail, healthcare, and pharma.

"In the past 5-6 weeks, the TPG conversation has intensified. An official involved in the negotiations declined to be identified because discussions are in the private domain like most funds it is also looking for new opportunities during the pandemic.