Year-Roundup 2023: Mergers & Acquisitions in 2023 that can have an impact!

2023 has been a year for some major mergers and acquisitions, and here's a list of them.

1. Government of India and Vodafone

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In February, the Government of India acquired 33.4% of the shares of Vodafone, becoming the largest shareholder of the technology communications company. The amount is estimated to be around Rs. 16,133 crores.

2. Adani and NDTV Group

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Last year, in 2022, the Adani Group announced that it held a stake of 27.26% in the NDTV Group, valued at an estimated Rs. 600 crores. However, this year, the billionaire and his company acquired additional shares worth about Rs. 1.76 crores.

3. Paytm and Alibaba

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China's Alibaba sold 3.1% of its shares in Paytm through a block deal (defined as a single transaction involving a minimum of five lakh shares or Rs. 5 crore between two parties) for a total of $125 million. This sale reduced Alibaba's previous stake from 6.26%.

4. LIC and BATA

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Next on our list is Life Insurance Company, which acquired Bata India Pvt. Ltd., a footwear brand, for Rs. 108 crore in March. Additionally, the company purchased an additional 6.88 lakh equity shares.

5. BharatPe and Trillion Loans

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BharatPe also acquired 51% of the shares of Mumbai-based Trillion Loans, a non-banking financial company (NBFC). Trillion Loans will continue to operate as an independent entity, with BharatPe assisting in the launch of its new digital lending products.

6. Kotak Mahindra Bank and Sonata Finance

In February, Kotak Mahindra Bank acquired Sonata with an all-cash deal of Rs. 537 crore. The bank also announced that Sonata will provide them with a platform to efficiently cater to economically weaker sections and underserved populations. Sonata offers microfinance loans to low-income individuals and small business owners without requiring any security or assets.

7. PVR and Inox 

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PVR Pictures merged with Inox Leisure and introduced a new identity called PVR INOX Pictures in May. The merger resulted in the closure of some cinema screens, leaving the combined entity with 361 cinemas and 1,689 screens across 115 cities in India and Sri Lanka.

8. Reliance Retail and Ed-a-Mamma 

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To expand its portfolio, Isha Ambani's Reliance Retail has acquired a 51% stake in actor Alia Bhatt’s kid's wear brand, Ed-a-Mamma, valued between Rs. 300 crores and Rs. 350 crores.

9. Swiggy and LYNK Logistics

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Swiggy has entered the food and grocery retail market after acquiring LYNI, an FMCG retail distribution company. According to some media reports, the estimated deal was finalized at $39 million. Similar to Trillion Loans, LYNI will also continue to function as an independent entity post-acquisition.

10. Saregama and Pocket Aces 

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In September, the popular music label Saregama acquired a 51.8% stake in Pocket Aces Pictures Pvt Ltd, a digital entertainment company, for Rs. 174 crore. The deal includes a provision for Saregama to acquire an additional 41% stake to solidify its presence within the next 15 months.

11. Liberty Global and Vodafone

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Vodafone received an investment of 1.2 billion euros from Liberty Global as it acquired 1,355 million euros' worth, representing 4.92% of the outstanding shares (the number of shares owned by shareholders that doesn't include the ones repurchased by the company) in February. Liberty Global also announced that the purpose was to diversify its portfolio.