Mukesh Ambani: India’s richest man will give up his full salary until coronavirus is alleviated



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Mukesh Ambani announced his decision as Reliance Industries, the extensive telecommunications, manufacturing and oil refining conglomerate he runs, posted appalling profits. Net profits fell more than 37% to Rs 65 billion ($ 850 million) in the three months ending in March compared to the previous year, as the company faced the impact of the pandemic.

Oil prices fell to record lows last month when demand evaporated. Brent crude, the global benchmark, is still trading below $ 30 a barrel. US oil is below $ 20. The drop in oil offset the strength elsewhere in Reliance’s business. Its digital services revenue grew 30% compared to the same period last year.

Ambani is worth $ 53.4 billion, according to Forbes. The company says its salary has been limited to $ 2 million since the 2008 financial crisis.

“You are now giving up your salary until the company and all of its businesses return to their earning potential,” the company said in a statement.

Bloomberg reported that the company will also cut wages by 10% for all employees who earn more than $ 20,000 a year, citing sources. Reliance declined to comment on that report.

Reliance also announced that it wants to raise money by issuing shares to its existing stakeholders, its first such offer in three decades. The measure would allow the company to raise $ 7 billion.

“The global oil markets witnessed significant volatility due to the destruction of demand and excess supplies,” Reliance wrote in a statement that accompanied the gains, adding that blockages and travel restrictions led to strong drop in energy demand.

Reliance said Thursday that the company is trying to find ways to respond to the virus. His philanthropic arm, the Reliance Foundation, helped dedicate hundreds of hospital beds in Mumbai to treating coronavirus patients.

Other dependency divisions are trying to help expand India’s ability to detect the virus and produce face masks and other protective clothing for health workers.

Big Tech's honeymoon with the world's second largest internet market is ending

Ambani’s mobile network Reliance Jio has grown in popularity since its launch less than four years ago, accumulating 388 million users.

The billionaire has also just signed on with a great partner as he continues to take advantage of India’s internet boom. Facebook (full board) announced in April that it will invest $ 5.7 billion for a 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms, the digital technology arm of the Ambani conglomerate.

The link includes a trade association with WhatsApp that potentially paves the way for Facebook to make money with the 400 million users of the messaging service in India.

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