LIC, Singapore Govt Hike Stake in Reliance Industries

Bangalore: State-run insurance giant LIC and Government of Singapore have hiked their stakes in Reliance Industries  with the purchase of shares worth over Rs.1,550 crore during the last quarter.

Life Insurance Corp of India (LIC) increased its stake in Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) from 7.09 percent to 7.77 percent during the quarter ended June 30, 2012.

During the same period, the Government of Singapore also raised its RIL holding marginally from 1.06 percent to 1.22 percent.

At the current market price, the additional shares purchased by LIC during the quarter are worth about Rs.1,450 crore, while that of Singapore government is worth about Rs.100 crore.

LIC's holding in RIL now stands at about 25.2 crore -- rising by close to two crore in April-June quarter, while Singapore government's RIL holding has risen by more than 15 lakh shares to 3.94 crore during the period.

On the other hand, the holding of another major non-promoter shareholder, Franklin Templeton Investment Funds, in the company declined marginally by 4.26 lakh shares (worth about Rs.31 crore) to 1.22 percent.

The promoter holding in RIL rose by 0.4 percent to 45.15 percent during the quarter. The total FII (Foreign Institutional Investor) holding in RIL, however, declined from 17.55 percent to 17 percent, as they sold shares worth an estimated Rs.1,300 crore.

At the same time, the overall holding of DIIs (Domestic Institutional Investors) rose from 10.71 percent to 11.2 percent.

RIL shares were trading on a sluggish note at Rs.726 this afternoon, down 0.24 percent from yesterday's close, ahead of the company's first quarter results later in the evening. The company current commands total market valuation of close to Rs.2,37,700 crore.