Reliance Communications, an India-based conglomerate, has said most of the world's largest private equity firms are prepared to support its indicative $15bn (€11.4bn) to $20bn bid for local mobile phone operator Hutchinson Essar.

In a press conference today reported by Bloomberg, Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance, said: "I've lost count of the number of private equity people that have lined up [behind our bid]."