Zolostays sells college accommodation biz to Good Host Spaces for Rs 108 Cr

Entrackr · 14d

In October 2023, Alta Capital is said to have acquired the entire 100% stake held by Goldman Sachs and Warburg Pincus in Good Host Spaces for a reported $320 million. Co-living and home rental startup Zolostays has sold its student housing business, which manages accommodation for colleges and universities, to Good Host Spaces, as part of the firm’s move to focus on its core offerings. The board of Zolo Stays has approved a special resolution to sell the undertaking through a slump sale valued at Rs 107.8 crore (approximately $12.5 million), according to regulatory filings sourced from the Registrar of Companies. Of the total consideration of Rs 107.8 crore, Rs 97.02 crore (90%) will be paid in cash, while the remaining Rs 10.78 crore will be settled through debentures issued by Good Host Spaces to Zolo Stays. Good Host Spaces owns and operates third-party, purpose-built student accommodations located within leading university campuses such as Manipal University, OP Jindal Global University, and Shoolini University. “The sale will enable the company to focus on its core business operations and pursue growth opportunities in those areas. The lump sum consideration will improve the company’s liquidity position and strengthen its balance sheet,” the company added in the filings. Zolostays also raised Rs 20 crore debt by issuing non-convertible debentures to VentureSoul Managers India LLP for business expansion, meeting working capital and others, a separate resolution shows. Zolostays has secured over $110 million in funding to date, including a $56 million Series C round led by Investcorp and Mirae Asset. According to the startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Nexus Ventures is the largest external stakeholder, followed by Investcorp and Mirae Asset. Zolo Stays recorded an 11.4% year-on-year growth in revenue to Rs 204.4 crore during the fiscal year ended March 2024, while its losses narrowed by 17.4% to Rs 57 crore in the same period. The sale is an interesting development in the segment, where Good Host Spaces has stolen a march over competition in more ways than one. From funding to significant tie-ups with fast-expanding University campuses, it has built a strong business that might have convinced existing ZoloStays stakeholders to opt out. The distinct approaches taken by the acquired and the acquirer, in terms of offering independent PG accommodation versus captive campuses, is a good indicator of where the market has shifted, and it should be interesting to see how GHS handles the acquired business now.