ACQUISITION INTEREST
As fintech lenders chase secured credit options, VCs up their bets
As unsecured lending slows, investor interest is shifting to secured lending platforms, attracting significant venture capital. Startups are expanding into secured loans like LAP and vehicle financing, but face challenges like high operational costs and default risks. Fintechs aim to offset this with technology-driven efficiency and selective physical branch expansion.
Tilaknagar Industries plans $500 million acquisition of Imperial Blue Whisky from Pernod Ricard
Tilaknagar Industries, known for Mansion House brandy, aims to raise up to $500 million to potentially acquire Imperial Blue whisky from Pernod Ricard. Kotak Mahindra Bank and Avendus Capital are mandated to arrange rupee-denominated non-convertible debentures. The debt financing is expected to be priced in the low-to-mid teens, with a portion potentially raised through private credit funds.
Insolvency plea filed against FirstCry subsidiary GlobalBees
In an exchange filing, BrainBees Solutions, parent company of FirstCry, said that Ashutosh Garg, Paritosh Garg and Manju Agarwal have petitioned the New Delhi bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for an alleged claim of Rs 64.92 crore, along with 18% interest per annum accruing from May 9 till the date of payment.
India realty enters FY26 with $6.99 billion in transactions led by tech, ESG trends
India's real estate sector showed strength despite global economic challenges. The sector recorded significant transactions in FY2024-25. Private equity dominated capital flows. Residential sales surged in major cities. Office leasing rebounded with demand from various sectors. Investors preferred Grade A, ESG-compliant assets. Technology adoption accelerated with AI and blockchain. The sector is set for continued evolution despite some challenges.
Not even Saudi Arabia or FIFA could get Cristiano Ronaldo to the Club World Cup
Saudi Arabia aims to dominate global sports. It eyes soccer through Club World Cup. Efforts to bring Cristiano Ronaldo to Al Hilal failed. Al Hilal will face Real Madrid. Saudi Arabia invested heavily in soccer. It also secured the 2034 World Cup hosting rights. The nation acquired Newcastle and recruited star players. This shows Saudi Arabia's ambition in sports.
Oiling the wheels: PE funds buy into fast-growing tech firms
Private equity firms are aggressively acquiring stakes in rapidly growing technology companies, particularly in digital engineering and healthcare. Since early 2025, several deals have been finalised, fueled by the impressive growth in cloud and analytics sectors.
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BlueStone’s pre-IPO glow up; PE funds go tech shopping
Ahead of its listing, BlueStone is poised to become India’s next unicorn through a secondary deal. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
IPO-bound BlueStone geared for unicorn tag
Bluestone is preparing for its public market debut. 360 One and Centrum Wealth are facilitating secondary deals. These deals amount to Rs 300–350 crore. The transaction values Bluestone at Rs 10,500 crore. RB Investments will fully exit Bluestone through these deals. Bluestone's IPO includes a fresh capital raise. The company reported revenue of Rs 1,266 crore in fiscal 2024.
Maharashtra government approves stamp duty concessions for Dharavi redevelopment project
The Maharashtra cabinet has approved stamp duty concessions for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, a joint venture with the Adani group, to accelerate its progress. Additionally, the deadline for availing loans for Mumbai Metro lines 2A, 2B, and 7 has been extended to December 31, 2026, facilitating the procurement of remaining metro trains.
Bitcoin steady at $107k amid institutional buying; Altcoins trade mixed
Bitcoin experienced a surge, briefly reaching $108,915, fueled by significant institutional investments from Strategy and Metaplanet. Ethereum also saw substantial whale accumulation, maintaining its position above $2,500. Market volatility persisted due to geopolitical tensions and ETF-related developments, with analysts closely monitoring key resistance and support levels for both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Why Adani’s $1.2 billion stake in Haifa Port is more than just business
Following an Iranian missile strike that damaged the Bazan oil refinery and heightened regional tensions, Adani Group's Haifa Port investment faces increased scrutiny. Despite denials of damage, the port's strategic importance to Israel and India's IMEC corridor plans underscores the risks of operating in a conflict zone.
South Australian government threatens to intervene in oil giant Santos $30 billion Abu Dhabi takeover bid
UAE investors, led by XRG, offered nearly $30 billion to acquire Australian oil and gas producer Santos at $8.99 per share, a 28% premium. Following the deal announcement, the South Australian government threatened to intervene if the takeover bid for the state's largest company is "not in the interests of South Australians."
Bollywood turns cold on new directors: Fewer debut filmmakers in theatres
Hindi film producers are increasingly hesitant to invest in debut filmmakers due to box-office unpredictability and a preference for proven formulas. The number of first-time directors has declined, even as the total number of film releases has increased.
Manipal, Fortis in talks to raise Rs 5,000 cr for Sahyadri Hospitals bid
Manipal Health and Fortis Healthcare are in talks with foreign lenders to secure up to ₹5,000 crore for bidding on Sahyadri Hospitals, as the deadline approaches on June 22. Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is divesting its stake in Sahyadri, attracting interest amid consolidation in India's hospital sector, fueled by increased investor activity and FDI inflow.
Advance tax without CII: Indexation helps property sellers save LTCG tax, but CII not being notified for FY26, what should they do?
Property sellers who bought property before July 23, 2024, can lower capital gains tax using the cost inflation index (CII). However, the CII for FY 2025-26 is not yet notified, creating challenges for advance tax payments due June 15. The solution is Taxpayers can estimate CII using past trends or last year's value to avoid penalties.
Paytm, Mobikwik shares slip; US onsite visas stall
Paytm and Mobikwik stocks slide after MDR rumour sparks selloff. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Eye on IPO shores, companies set sail for Cayman
The Cayman Islands are emerging as a preferred destination for Indian software startups chasing global markets, offering greater flexibility in raising capital, whether from India or abroad. The self-governing British Overseas Territory is a “region of interest” for software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies scaling up their international ambitions.
$1 billion boarding pass? Adani Airport may raise equity from international investors as it charts expansion route
Adani Airport Holdings is considering raising $1 billion from global investors. The company is evaluating growth plans and acquisitions. Interest has been shown by investors from the US, Middle East, and Australia. AAHL aims to triple capacity in the next 15 years. The company is also open to acquisitions both in India and internationally.
Allied Blenders buys rights to Mansion House and Savoy Club Brands
Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd (ABD) has secured global rights for Mansion House and Savoy Club brands from UTO Asia for $1.2 million, excluding specific Asian territories. This acquisition aims to give ABD full control over these brands globally, addressing regional interests in key markets.
QUBT shares surge more than 20% in explosive rally, sending quantum computing stocks into the spotlight
Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) stock price exploded by 30.47% in a single day, closing at $19.74, as investors rushed into the fast-moving quantum tech space. QUBT’s share price has now surged over 3,000% in the past year, despite starting 2025 at deep lows. The rally gained traction after IonQ’s acquisition of Oxford Ionics, lifting sector-wide optimism. Still, QUBT remains a high-risk, high-reward stock, with past volatility and weak earnings metrics. With growing attention on quantum computing stocks, many are now watching to see if this historic rally will continue—or if a sharp pullback is near.
Mansion House brand's global ownership goes to Allied Blenders
Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd (ABD) has acquired global ownership of 'Mansion House' and 'Savoy Club' liquor brands by acquiring UTO Asia Pte. Ltd. The deal, approved on June 10, 2025, for €1.225 million, excludes certain Southeast Asian markets. This acquisition aligns with ABD's strategic expansion goals, strengthening its brand presence internationally.
Japan's Mizuho is said to be on cusp of buying Indian investment bank Avendus
Mizuho Financial Group is nearing a deal to acquire a majority stake in Avendus Capital, potentially valuing the Indian investment bank at $800 million. This move follows a trend of Japanese banks expanding into India, exemplified by Sumitomo Mitsui's recent investment in Yes Bank. Mizuho aims to leverage Avendus' expertise to strengthen its dealmaking presence in the burgeoning Indian market.
IPG begins workforce restructuring in India
Ahead of its $13-billion global merger with Omnicom Group, Interpublic Group (IPG) has initiated workforce restructuring in India, impacting corporate functions like finance and HR. While aiming to protect creative teams, consolidation may lead to role redundancies and potential brand divestitures due to client conflicts. IPG Mediabrands India, however, is not currently downsizing.
Micro-drama OTT platform Flick TV raises $2.3 million in round led by Stellaris Venture Partners
Gemba Capital and Titan Capital participated in this round. According to founder Kushal Singhal, the funds will be used to scale content production, improve user experience, expand into regional languages, and strengthen the team. Flick TV is working to tap into the growing demand for short-form, mobile-first video content in India.
United Spirits shares gain 3% on reports of potential RCB stake sale by parent Diageo
United Spirits shares: According to the report, Diageo is considering several options regarding its stake in the prominent cricket franchise, which it holds via United Spirits. The British liquor major is said to be in talks with advisers to assess the possibility of selling either a partial or complete stake in RCB.
Kamal Haasan’s Thug Life OTT release: When and where to watch Mani Ratnam's Tamil action drama
Thug Life, Mani Ratnam’s latest gangster drama starring Kamal Haasan, hit theatres on June 5 and is already making waves for its scale and streaming buzz. Initially set to release on Netflix eight weeks post-launch, reports now suggest the OTT debut could be fast-tracked to just four weeks, per M9 News. Featuring a powerful cast and backed by AR Rahman’s music, the film continues to impress in theatres while fans eagerly await its potential early digital release.
Morgan Stanley markets $5 billion for Elon Musk-owned xAI in loans, bonds, sources say
Morgan Stanley is marketing $5 billion xAI debt with floating and fixed rate options amid an ugly public dispute between the AI firm's owner, Elon Musk, and US President Donald Trump. xAI has also been in talks to raise $20 billion equity funding, with valuation discussed as high as $200 billion.
Single speciality hospitals boom on strong demand, PE infusion
India's single-specialty hospital market is projected to more than double to $31 billion in the next three to four years, driven by private equity investments and expansion into smaller towns. These hospitals, focusing on areas like eyecare and oncology, are expected to capture 40% of the total healthcare market by 2028.
L'Oreal buys British skincare brand Medik8
L'Oreal is set to acquire Medik8, a British skincare brand. The deal with Inflexion, Medik8's owner, will boost L'Oreal's dermatological skincare offerings. Medik8 specializes in anti-aging products. This acquisition will allow Medik8 to expand globally. L'Oreal's dermatological beauty division has seen rapid growth. The company is pursuing acquisitions to revive growth. They acquired Dr.G in December.
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