Ixigo set to acquire 51% stake in train food delivery firm Zoop

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Travel booking platform Ixigo is all set to acquire a majority stake in Zoop Web Services Private Limited. The board of directors at Ixigo approved the acquisition during a meeting held on October 24, 2024. The deal involves Ixigo purchasing a 51% stake in Zoop for a total consideration of Rs 12.54 crore, which includes a non-compete fee. This transaction is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions, as outlined in the definitive agreements signed by both companies. The acquisition will be executed through a combination of secondary and primary share purchases. Zoop is known for providing e-catering and other solutions for the railway ecosystem. By integrating Zoop’s offerings into its platform, Ixigo aims to provide a more comprehensive travel experience to its users. This acquisition makes sense for Ixigo as 53% of its revenue collected in Q2 FY25 came from the train vertical. Zoop offers meal bookings, PNR status checks, and other railway-related services. It operates across 18 states and provides services at 192 railway stations. The company partners with nearly 400 active restaurants. In addition to acquiring the majority stake, Ixigo has secured an option to purchase the remaining 49% stake in Zoop in the future. This is the third major acquisition for Ixigo. In February 2021, it acquired a 100% stake in the train booking app Confirmtkt, while it took over the bus aggregator platform AbhiBus in August of the same year. Ixigo's revenue from operations saw a 26% growth to Rs 206.47 crore in Q2 FY25, compared to the same period in FY24. However, the company's profit after tax (PAT) experienced a significant decline of 51%, dropping from Rs 26.70 crore in Q2 FY24 to Rs 13.08 crore in Q2 FY25.