Expansion manageable: S&P upgrades RIL to 'BBB+' over greater clarity

Reliance Industries Ltd's (RIL) strategy to diversify and dominate a number of industries will boost spending and will also help mitigate its elevated capex needs, rating agencies said on Wednesday.

While S&P Global Ratings said it believes that "the company's appetite for bigger investments or M&As will dissipate", Fitch Group company CreditSights said its "credit metrics to worsen moderately in FY24 (April 2023 to March 2024 fiscal) versus FY23 as elevated capex (telecom, retail and renewable energy) outweighs resilient EBITDA growth."

S&P said RIL's adjusted debt will likely remain at Rs 2.6 lakh crore to Rs 2.7 lakh crore over the next two years. "This is due to a number of planned investments under its pipeline, including 5G services, oil refining and petrochemicals, renewables, and retail expansion."

"In our view, the company remains committed to maintaining leverage commensurate with the rating (BBB+/Stable/--)," it said. "Management has publicly reiterated its ...