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Exclusive: Unnati Agri set to acquire Gramophone in share swap deal

EntrackrEntrackr · 6d ago
Exclusive: Unnati Agri set to acquire Gramophone in share swap deal
Medial

Exclusive: Unnati Agri set to acquire Gramophone in share swap deal Agri tech platform Unnati Agri is in the final stages of acquiring its sectoral peer Gramophone in a share swap deal, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The proposed transaction, if completed, will create one of the largest agri-input companies in India. “The deal between Unnati and Gramophone would bring significant consolidation in the agri-input space, which currently has only a handful of players,” said one of the sources requesting anonymity. As per sources, the proposed share swap structure is likely to be based on the revenue contribution and business scale of both companies. For the uninitiated, agri inputs include products such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides that are sold to farmers or retailers to aid crop production. In contrast, agri output biz focuses on helping farmers sell their harvested produce, such as grains, fruits, and vegetables, to buyers or markets. “Gramophone is expected to hold around 30–35% stake in the combined entity, with the remaining ownership resting with Unnati,” added the source quoted above. “The deal is likely to be structured more as a merger than an acquisition, with both firms continuing to operate independently.” For Unnati, the past year was focused on brand consolidation after scaling down third-party operations. It now operates with margins of 30–35%, and improved its bottom line in FY25 even as revenue remained flat. “Unnati’s own brand-led model is now driving better margins, and its input ARR has reached around Rs 375 crore for FY26,” said another source requesting anonymity. InfoEdge-backed Gramophone had earlier focused on its output business but shut it down due to weak margins. “After exiting output, Gramophone shifted its focus to inputs, which led to a turnaround in FY25. Its own branded input products have grown significantly,” said the above source. For context, Gramophone’s gross merchandise value (GMV) fell to Rs 98 crore in FY24 from Rs 316 crore in FY23 after the company scaled down its output operations. According to sources, its growth is likely to remain flat in FY25; however, the company is currently operating at an annual recurring revenue (ARR) run rate of Rs 150 crore for FY26. Gramophone has a strong presence in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, while Unnati operates in Haryana, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. The merger would expand their footprint and combine Unnati’s B2B strength with Gramophone’s direct-to-farmer B2C network. “Their synergies align well both geographically and operationally,” said the person quoted in the beginning of the story. Post-merger, the combined entity plans to raise a larger funding round and explore joint acquisitions, according to sources. Detailed queries sent to Unnati and Gramophone on Monday did not elicit a response. The story will be updated if they respond. Founded in 2017 by former Paytm Mall chief operating officer Amit Sinha and Ashok Prasad, Unnati Agri has raised over $11 million to date from Incofin Investment Management, Orios and others. Gramophone, on the other side, has raised over $20 million to date, including its $10 million Series B led by Z3 partners.

EV financing startup Vidyut raises $5 Mn in Series A

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
EV financing startup Vidyut raises $5 Mn in Series A
Medial

EV financing and vehicle lifecycle management platform Vidyut has raised $5 million or Rs 40 crore in its Series A round. This is the first round of investment for the Bengaluru-based company this year. The board at Vidyut has passed a special resolution to issue 6,185 Series A CCPS at an issue price of Rs 64,690 per share to raise $5 million or R 40 crore, its regulatory filing accessed from the Registrar of Companies shows. 3one4Capital spearheaded the round with Rs 22.2 crore while Zephyr Peacock India Fund and Saison Capital pumped in Rs 7.1 crore and Rs 8 crore respectively. LetsVentures, Angellist, and high-profile angles including Sujeet Kumar and Rajiv J Chaudhri cumulatively poured Rs 2.7 crore during the round. As per the data intelligence platform TheKredible, the company has been valued at around Rs 148 crore or $18 million post-allotment. Following the fresh proceeds, 3one4Capital became the largest external stakeholder with 15% followed by Zephyr Peacock India Growth Fund and Saison Capital which commands 13.96% and 5.41% respectively. Head to TheKredible for the complete captable. Vidyut has further passed a resolution to expand its ESOP pool by adding 768 fresh options which increased its pool size to 1,879 Esops. As per TheKredible estimates, its ESOP pool is now worth Rs 12.1 crore. The company had closed its seed round of $4 million in a mix of equity and debt led by Force Ventures, Veda VC, and a group of marquee angles including Sujeet Kumar, Kunal Shah, Shriharsha Majety, and others. Founded in 2021, Vidyut focuses primarily on serving commercial vehicle fleet owners. The company offers electric vehicle (EV) financing and ownership plans designed to mitigate the risks associated with owning a battery. The two years old company is in the pre-revenue stage which posted an income of Rs 68 lakh with a loss of Rs 3 crore during the previous fiscal year ended March 2023. In the electric vehicle financing space, Vidyut competes with Revfin, Finayo, Mufin Green Finance, OTO, evfin, and Hero FinCorp, among others. Recently, Revfin raised $14 million in Series B round led by Omidyar Network.

Unnati Agri crosses Rs 500 Cr revenue in FY24; losses widen marginally

EntrackrEntrackr · 6m ago
Unnati Agri crosses Rs 500 Cr revenue in FY24; losses widen marginally
Medial

Unnati Agri continued its growth momentum by crossing the Rs 500 crore revenue mark in the fiscal year ending March 2024. While its losses increased by 14% year-on-year, they remained under control during the same period. Unnati Agri’s revenue from operations increased by 30% to Rs 515 crore in FY24, from Rs 397 crore in FY23, according to its financial statements sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC). Unnati enables farmers to buy agri-inputs and sell produce directly to food processors and agribusinesses, generating 99% of its revenue from these transactions. It also offers pre- and post-harvest services along with working credit through a unified platform. On the expense side, material costs remained dominant at 88% of total expenses. These costs rose 27% to Rs 469 crore in FY24 from Rs 370 crore in FY23. Discount charges, tied to incentives and promotions, more than doubled to Rs 31 crore from Rs 15 crore. Employee benefits increased to Rs 15 crore, and other expenses rose to Rs 18 crore. Overall, the Orios Venture-backed firm’s total expense increased by 29% to Rs 533 crore in FY24 from Rs 412 crore in FY23. Despite the top-line growth, the company’s losses slightly widened to Rs 16 crore in FY24 from Rs 14 crore in FY23. Its ROCE and EBITDA stood at -17.19% and -2.03%, respectively. On a unit basis, the company spent Rs 1.03 to earn a rupee of operating revenue in FY24. Unnati’s total assets rose to Rs 144 crore in FY24, with current assets reaching Rs 141 crore. As of March 2024, the firm held Rs 34 crore in cash and bank balances, offering a liquidity buffer. According to startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, Unnati Agri has raised approximately $14 million in funding till date, having NABVENTURES and VSS Investco as its lead investors. Its co-founders, Amit Sinha and Ashok Prasad together own 44.6% of the company.

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