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CCI approves majority stake acquisition in Nazara by Mithun Sacheti’s Axana and others

Entrackr · 2m ago

Medial

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Tuesday approved the acquisition of a majority stake and control over Nazara Technologies Limited by Axana Estates LLP, Plutus Wealth Management LLP, and Junomoneta Finsol Private Limited. In January this year, Axana Estates, Plutus Wealth Management, and Junomoneta Finsol had made an open offer to acquire up to a 26% stake in Nazara Technologies from its stakeholders. In the same month, the Mumbai-based company also raised $60 million led by Axana Estates against a 5.4% stake. Axana Estates LLP lists Arpit Khandelwal and Mithun Sacheti as its designated partners. Khandelwal is the founder and managing partner of Plutus Wealth Management, while Sacheti is the founder of CaratLane, now owned by Titan. Both Khandelwal and Plutus Investments hold stakes in Junomoneta. Plutus Wealth entities previously held a 13.3% stake in Nazara. Following this transaction, Axana Estates and Plutus Wealth will collectively hold a 27.2% stake in the 26-year-old company. As of March 2025, Nazara founder Nitish Mittersain holds an 8.75% stake in the company along with Mitter Infotech, while Plutus Wealth Management and Arpit Khandelwal command 11.54% and 7.87%, respectively. SBI Mutual Fund and Rekha Jhunjhunwala (on behalf of the late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala) hold 8.52% and 7.06% shares, respectively, in the company. In November last year, Nazara raised $100 million through a preferential issue for expansion in the gaming and sports media sector. Since then, the company and its subsidiaries have acquired majority stakes in multiple gaming firms such as Curve Games, TJRWrestling, ITRWrestling, King of Thieves and CATS, Trinity Gaming, and Funky Monkey. Although Nazara has not yet released its Q4 FY25 results, its operating revenue surged 67% in Q3 FY25 to Rs 535 crore from Rs 320 crore in Q3 FY24. However, its profit declined 53.6% year-on-year during the same period to Rs 13.7 crore. On Wednesday, Nazara founder Nitish Mittersain revealed that the company will have Rs 700 crore in cash on its balance sheet. Moreover, Nazara also secured the rights to Bigg Boss in India and plans to launch the game in the coming months. The company is currently trading at Rs 1,279 (as of 12:30 PM) with a total market capitalization of Rs 11,229 crore or approximately $1.3 billion.