Leaving little doubt about their growing understanding at home and at work, Mukesh and Anil Ambani holidayed with their families in South Africa, and are believed to have discussed synergising their businesses to mutual advantage.
The brothers, who have been battling ever since patriarch Dhirubhai Ambani passed away in July 2002, revisited the same lodge at the Kruger National Park, where their father had brought the family last in 2000.
Mukesh's wife Nita and children Akash, Isha and Anant, and Anil's wife Tina and children Anmol and Anshul, camped at one of Africa's largest game reserves last week, sources said.
Mukesh's long-time friend and trusted lieutenant Anand Jain, who played a key role in the peace pact announced on May 23, was also believed to be there. The pact allows the two camps the flexibility to enter areas of business where the other is already present.
During the three-night stay, the brothers are understood to have discussed ways to leverage from each other's business activities in the telecom, finance and entertainment sectors, sources said.
Spokespersons for the brothers declined to comment on queries related to the bonhomie and business collaborations.
“RIL [Reliance Industries Limited] and Reliance ADA [Anil Dhirubhai Ambani] Group are hopeful and confident that all these steps would create an overall environment of harmony, cooperation and collaboration between the two groups, thereby further enhancing the overall shareholder value for shareholders of both the groups,” the statement had said.
Following this, sources said, the brothers also discussed the strategy for the telecom sector where, Mukesh gets in the broadband sector in a big way, while Anil is a major player in telecom services.
The collaboration following the truce could pose a formidable challenge to other players in the sector, analysts feel.
