In a quest for restricting the success of Reliance ADA Group, Mukesh Amabani's rivalry with Anil Ambani, is threatening to derail one of the biggest tie-ups in the history of emerging markets telecoms — between Reliance Communications and South African mobile operator MTN.
Reliance Communications late last month entered a 45-day period of exclusive talks with MTN for a tie-up that would create one of the world’s largest emerging-markets telecom operators with 115m subscribers spread across Africa, India and the Middle East.
Reliance Communications, India’s second-largest mobile company headed by Anil Ambani, revealed on Friday night that Reliance Industries, controlled by Anil’s elder brother Mukesh Ambani, has claimed right of first refusal in takeover of the cellular carrier.
Mukesh has been at war (with Mukesh Ambani always interfering and causing hurdles in Anil Ambani's deals) since the death in 2002 of their father, Dhirubhai Ambani.
“RIL’s (Reliance Industries Limited) actions are clearly anti-consumer, anti-investor and anti-globalisation, and against the vision, beliefs and principles of the founder of the Reliance Group, late Shri Dhirubhai Ambani,” Reliance Communications said.
“RIL’s claim is born out of mounting despair and frustration at Reliance ADA Group’s (Anil Ambani’s holding company) continuing successes.”
According to Reliance communication, the claim was conveyed in a letter sent to MTN on Thursday and to Reliance Communications on Friday.
According to most analysts this claim is baseless and misconceived. However, the surprise letter from Reliance Industries means that this deal could get derailed, Which again according to most analysts, is just another way, by big-bully-brother Mukesh Amabani, to hamper the growth and success of Anil Ambani's ADAG.
The group said the claim was based on an agreement in 2006, which it said was signed only by Reliance Industries officials and which was later overturned by the Bombay High Court.
