Skip to main content

Reliance Industries Limited

ConglomerateFounded 1966
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026

Acquisitions

Reliance Industries Acquisitions

6

Major Deals Covered

$1.8B

Disclosed Deal Value

What are Reliance Industries's biggest acquisitions?

Reliance Industries's largest disclosed acquisition here is REC Solar Holdings for $771M in 2021. This page covers 6 major deals from 2014 to 2022, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.

Major deals covered
6
Largest deal
REC Solar Holdings ($771M)
First deal
2014
Most recent
2022
CompanyYearPricePurpose
Network182014UndisclosedReliance acquired control of Network18 to gain media distribution, news, entertainment, digital publishing, and advertising capabilities that could support a future telecom and content ecosystem.
Hamleys2019$88.0MReliance Brands acquired Hamleys to enter global toy retail and strengthen its premium and specialty retail portfolio.
Justdial2021$469.0MReliance Retail acquired control of Justdial to add local search, merchant listings, discovery data, and small-business relationships to its commerce ecosystem.
REC Solar Holdings2021$771.0MReliance acquired REC Solar to gain solar manufacturing technology, brand credibility, and global expertise for its new-energy manufacturing plans.
Faradion2021$135.0MReliance acquired Faradion to obtain sodium-ion battery technology that could support storage, mobility, and renewable-energy integration.
Metro Cash & Carry India2022$344.0MReliance Retail acquired Metro's India cash-and-carry business to strengthen wholesale, kirana relationships, store infrastructure, and business-to-business retail capabilities.
What companies has Reliance Industries bought?
Major acquisitions by Reliance Industries documented here include REC Solar Holdings (2021), Justdial (2021), Metro Cash & Carry India (2022), Faradion (2021) and Hamleys (2019).
What is Reliance Industries's most recent acquisition?
The most recent Reliance Industries acquisition documented here is Metro Cash & Carry India, in 2022, for $344M.

Metro Cash & Carry India

2022

$344M

Why

Reliance Retail acquired Metro's India cash-and-carry business to strengthen wholesale, kirana relationships, store infrastructure, and business-to-business retail capabilities.

Impact

The acquisition deepened Reliance's reach with small merchants and improved its ability to supply India's fragmented retail market.

Outcome

Metro India fits Reliance Retail's merchant-supply strategy and gave the company established wholesale assets. The main challenge is integrating a cash-and-carry format into Reliance's wider omnichannel and JioMart ecosystem without losing merchant trust.

Justdial

2021

$469M

Why

Reliance Retail acquired control of Justdial to add local search, merchant listings, discovery data, and small-business relationships to its commerce ecosystem.

Impact

The acquisition supported Reliance's push to connect merchants, consumers, and digital commerce through Jio and JioMart.

Outcome

Justdial gave Reliance a data and discovery layer for local commerce, but the asset needed modernization to compete with app-first discovery and marketplace platforms. Its value depends on integration with retail, advertising, and merchant services.

REC Solar Holdings

2021

$771M

Why

Reliance acquired REC Solar to gain solar manufacturing technology, brand credibility, and global expertise for its new-energy manufacturing plans.

Impact

The deal accelerated Reliance's move into integrated solar modules and supported the Jamnagar new-energy ecosystem.

Outcome

REC gave Reliance a credible technology base, but the acquisition will be judged by cost-competitive production and integration into Indian manufacturing. It remains part of a long-payback energy-transition strategy.

Faradion

2021

$135M

Why

Reliance acquired Faradion to obtain sodium-ion battery technology that could support storage, mobility, and renewable-energy integration.

Impact

The deal added a technology option outside conventional lithium-ion chemistry and strengthened Reliance's battery-storage roadmap.

Outcome

Faradion increased Reliance's technology optionality, but commercial success depends on scaling manufacturing, reducing costs, and finding customers for sodium-ion applications. The acquisition is logical but not yet a proven earnings contributor.

Hamleys

2019

$88M

Why

Reliance Brands acquired Hamleys to enter global toy retail and strengthen its premium and specialty retail portfolio.

Impact

The deal gave Reliance an international consumer brand with heritage value and store expansion potential in India and overseas.

Outcome

Hamleys helped Reliance broaden beyond grocery and electronics into experiential specialty retail. The acquisition is useful for brand credibility, though toy retail is not a major consolidated revenue driver compared with energy, telecom, or grocery.

Network18

2014

Why

Reliance acquired control of Network18 to gain media distribution, news, entertainment, digital publishing, and advertising capabilities that could support a future telecom and content ecosystem.

Impact

The acquisition transformed Reliance into a major Indian media owner and gave Jio a stronger content environment before and after its 2016 launch.

Outcome

Network18 achieved the strategic goal of giving Reliance content and attention assets, though media economics remain exposed to advertising cycles and content competition. The asset became more valuable as Jio and JioCinema increased the group's need for distribution and engagement.

Reliance Industries Limited's Growth & Acquisition Strategy

Growth now rests on four bets: listing Jio Platforms (DRHP filed June 19, 2026; SEBI approval August 28, 2026), scaling Reliance Retail and its consumer brands such as Campa, building AI and data-centre capacity announced at the 2026 AGM, and the Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex in Jamnagar for solar modules, batteries, electrolysers and green hydrogen.

How Reliance Industries Limited Makes Money

Reliance makes money through linked businesses. Oil-to-chemicals (O2C) refines crude at Jamnagar into fuels, polymers and polyester and is still the largest revenue line. Jio Platforms sells mobile, home broadband and enterprise connectivity; ARPU reached Rs 215.6 in Q1 FY2027. Reliance Retail runs grocery, electronics, fashion and consumer-brand formats plus JioMart. Oil and gas sells KG-D6 gas, and media earns advertising and subscription revenue through JioStar. Cash from energy has historically funded the capital-heavy consumer businesses.

Reliance Industries Acquisitions FAQ

What was Reliance's $8.5 billion media joint venture merger with Disney India in 2024?

In February 2024, Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company announced the landmark $8.5 billion merger of Viacom18 and Star India, with Reliance investing $1.4 billion in growth cash and holding a 63% controlling stake to create India's largest media and entertainment conglomerate.

What was Reliance Retail's historic acquisition of British well-known toy brand Hamleys in 2019?

In May 2019, Reliance Retail acquired historic British luxury toy retailer Hamleys (founded in London in 1760) for ~$89.7 million (£67.96 million) in all-cash, making Reliance the global owner and operator of the world's oldest and most famous toy store chain.

What was Reliance Retail's acquisition of Metro Cash & Carry India in 2022?

In December 2022, Reliance Retail acquired the wholesale operations of German retail giant Metro Cash & Carry India for ₹2,850 crore ($344M USD), adding 31 wholesale distribution centers across 21 cities to supercharge its B2B supply chain to local kiranas.

What major international acquisitions has Reliance executed for its New Energy transition?

Reliance acquired global green technology leaders, including REC Solar Holdings ($771M, Norway/Singapore solar PV manufacturer), Faradion ($135M, UK sodium-ion battery pioneer), Lithium Werks (cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate batteries), and Ambri (liquid metal energy storage).

What was Reliance Retail's acquisition of online pharmacy pioneer Netmeds and lingerie brand Zivame?

To dominate digital commerce verticals, Reliance Retail acquired a 60% stake in e-pharmacy platform Netmeds for ~$71.9 million (₹620 crore) in 2020, and acquired online intimate wear leader Zivame and designer brand Ritu Kumar.

What was the landmark 2019 partnership and stake sale to bp (British Petroleum)?

In 2019, Reliance formed a 50/50 joint venture with global energy major bp (Jio-bp) for fuels and mobility, with bp investing $1.0 billion to operate thousands of modern fuel stations and EV charging hubs across India, alongside deepwater gas production in KG-D6.

What acquisition of luxury hospitality assets has Reliance completed globally?

Reliance acquired well-known global luxury hospitality assets, including the historic Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City for $98.15 million in 2022 and the historic Stoke Park luxury country club in Buckinghamshire, UK, for ~$75.2 million (£57 million) in 2021.

What is Reliance Industries' forward M&A and capital allocation strategy?

Reliance focuses capital deployment on completing the $10B Jamnagar Green Energy Giga Complex, acquiring advanced AI and battery technology IP globally, expanding Reliance Retail's omnichannel reach, and preparing consumer subsidiaries for public stock market listings.

What was the landmark acquisition of IPCL in 2002?

In 2002, Reliance acquired state-owned petrochemical giant Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (IPCL) for ₹1,491 crore in a government disinvestment auction, creating an unassailable domestic polymer monopoly.

What was the strategic acquisition of iconic British toy retailer Hamleys in 2019?

In May 2019, Reliance Retail acquired 259-year-old British toy retailer Hamleys for £67.9 million (approx. ₹620 crore), expanding its global retail footprint across the UK, Europe, and Asia.

Why did Reliance acquire Just Dial in 2021?

In July 2021, Reliance Retail acquired a 66.95% controlling stake in local search engine pioneer Just Dial for ₹3,497 crore, integrating its database of 30+ million merchants into JioMart and local commerce ecosystems.

What was the landmark $8.5 billion Disney-Reliance media merger in 2024?

In February 2024, Reliance, Viacom18, and The Walt Disney Company agreed to merge their Indian media businesses into an $8.5 billion joint venture controlled by Reliance, combining JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar into India’s dominant entertainment titan.

How did Reliance acquire German wholesaler METRO Cash & Carry India?

In December 2022, Reliance Retail acquired METRO India for ₹2,850 crore, adding 31 large-format wholesale stores and extending direct wholesale supply chains to millions of local kirana merchants.

What major solar and green energy acquisitions has Reliance completed?

Reliance acquired 100% of REC Solar Holdings (Norway) for $771 million to secure heterojunction solar cell technology, and acquired sodium-ion battery innovator Faradion (UK) for £100 million.

What fashion and lifestyle acquisitions has Reliance Retail executed?

Reliance Retail acquired or took majority stakes in designer labels (Ritu Kumar, Manish Malhotra, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla) and digital lingerie brand Zivame, alongside pharmacy platform Netmeds and furniture retailer Urban Ladder.

What is Reliance’s future M&A outlook under Mukesh Ambani?

Reliance focuses M&A on deep-tech artificial intelligence platforms, global renewable energy supply chain assets, and digital retail technologies that accelerate the New Energy and consumer ecosystems.

Related M&A Histories

Compare corporate acquisition records, deal values, and strategic targets

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.