Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 17: While 2018 proved to be quite a robust year for mergers and acquisitions for Indian coorporates, the trend is expected to extend between refineries and petrochemical sectors also this year. Mergers and acquisitions are always considered to be drastically improving a company’s strategic standing in its market.

Times of India has reported on Wednesday that Saudi Aramco, the world's largest crude oil producer, is in 'serious discussions' to acquire up to 25 per cent stake in Reliance Industries' refining and petrochemicals business.

A minority stake sale could fetch around $10 billion to $15 billion, valuing the Indian company's refining and petrochemicals business at around $55 billion to 60 billion, the report said.

The agreement on valuation could be reached around June, the newspaper reported, citing people with knowledge of the development. Goldman Sachs is said to have been mandated to advise on the proposed deal, the report added.

Aramco's interest in the operator of the world's biggest private refinery comes following Saudi Arabia's crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Delhi in February when he said he expected investment opportunities worth more than $100 billion in India over the next two years.

Separately, Saudi Aramco's chief executive officer, Amin Nasser, had met Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani to discuss the Saudi state-owned company's businesses including crude, chemicals and non-metallics.

Saudi Aramco and Reliance Industries were not available for comment outside business hours.