Stocks to watch on Wednesday, February 21, 2024: In news today - Sebi finds Rs 2,000 cr fund diversion in Zee; Hindalco arm files IPO papers in US; Rolls Royce extends pact with TVS Supply Chain.
As part of its investigation into the Zee founders, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, or Sebi, found that about Rs 2,000 crore ($241 million) may have been diverted from the company
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd (ZEEL) is seeking rapprochement with Sony Group as it makes a last-ditch effort to resurrect a USD 10 billion merger, according to industry sources. After the Japanese multinational firm pulled the plug on its USD 10 billion merger deal in January, the Indian company reached out again to Sony to reconsider the termination and offered for talks this month, a source said. On the other hand, Sony is understood to be evaluating the proposal from Zee. Comments from Sony Picture Networks India could not be obtained as an e-mailed query remained unanswered. A Zee spokesperson said, Since the matter is subjudice we have no comments to offer. Another source said ZEEL never stopped working for a possible reconciliation dialogue citing that it was ZEEL that moved to NCLT to make the merger happen. The ball is in Sony's court. They need to respond if the deal has to be revived, the source said. The development comes amidst the two parties filing cases again
ZEEL and Sony Group are in discussions that may save the $10 billion merger that the Japanese conglomerate had called off on January 22
Sony-Zee merger: Punit Goenka, managing director and chief executive officer at ZEEL, has agreed to Sony's demand of him not becoming the CEO of the merged entity
With the proposed merger of its Indian arm with Zee terminated, Sony will seek various options, including finding another opportunity to replace the plan and organic growth opportunities in India, which has great potential in the long term, according to a top company official. In an earnings call, Hiroki Totoki, president, COO & CFO of Sony said India is a very appealing market where it would continue to invest. "India on a long term basis has a great growth potential. It's a very appealing market. Therefore, we will try to seek various opportunities and if we can find another opportunity that would replace this type of plan," Totoki said when asked about the company's strategy in India after the termination of the proposed merger. On the investment which Sony had committed as part of the deal, he said:"Well, that investment is not going to change a capital allocation or it will not change our behaviour in our investment. So at the moment, we do not have any concrete plans." The ..
Zee Entertainment Enterprise Ltd (ZEEL) is focusing on a three-pronged approach -- frugality, optimisation and sharp focus on quality content -- for the company's future, said its Managing Director and CEO Punit Goenka on Tuesday. The company aspires for an 8 to 10 per cent CAGR revenue growth, with digital business growing at a much faster pace, he said. "Going forward, there will be a sharper emphasis on frugality, with a crystal-clear focus on quality and output," said Goenka in the first earning call of the company, after the deal to merge with Sony Pictures Entertainment collapsed last month. Across verticals including technology, content and marketing, ZEEL is implementing steps to optimise spending and enhance the return on investments. "The three-pronged approach will elevate and further streamline our existing capabilities in line with our robust growth plans. The results of these structured steps over the next few quarters will start reflecting in the company's ...
Zee's profit rose to Rs 58.5 crore ($7.05 million) for the three months ended Dec. 31 from Rs 24.3 crore a year ago
The plea of Mad Men Film Ventures, a shareholder of Zee, seeking enforcement of the merger has been clubbed together with ZEEL's plea and will be heard on the same date
NCLT has granted two weeks to Sony to file its reply and listed the case for hearing on March 12
Stocks to Watch on Monday, February 5, 2024: Stock exchanges have revised the circuit limits for Paytm to 10 per cent from 20 per cent
Sony scrapped the merger on Jan. 22, ending a deal that could have created one of India's biggest TV broadcasters, claiming breaches of contract
The Singapore arbitration panel cites lack of jurisdiction for rejection
The communications between Sony's legal and M&A executives in India and Los Angeles with top Zee executives provide undisclosed details on the high-stakes backroom tussle
NCLT grants 3 weeks to Sony to file reply
The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Tuesday accepted a petition by a Zee Entertainment shareholder seeking the merger of its Indian entity with Sony, which was called off last week despite regulatory approvals. The Mumbai-bench of NCLT issued a notice on a petition moved by Mad Men Film Ventures, a shareholder of Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL), directing Sony Pictures Network India, now known as Culver Max, to file a reply within three weeks. Mad Men Film Ventures on Tuesday filed the petition requesting both ZEEL and Sony to implement the merger as it was approved by the NCLT in August 2023. The tribunal did not agree to the arguments made by the counsel stating that the approval by NCLT was conditional and depended on various conditions, which may be fulfilled or waived off in writing. NCLT has kept the next date of hearing on this matter on March 12. Last week, the Sony Group Corp called off the merger with ZEEL following a stalemate over who will lead the merged
India's Zee denied the allegations in a letter to Sony, also reviewed by Reuters, and accused the Japanese company of "bad faith" in calling off the merger
Chandra also said that as a promoter, he was "seriously considering" filing a criminal case against Sony
Why are DIIs holding such a high stake in Zee, which is beset with alleged governance issues? Perhaps they think Zee is a deep-value stock
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