Bullets

Paytm's stock tanked by 8.84% (Friday) after news broke of an ED investigation into a ₹2,200 Cr. crypto scam. 

10 Chinese nationals allegedly ran the scam through the HPZ Token app, promising crypto mining investments.

Money collected across 20 states was partly sent abroad; ₹500 Cr. was frozen in payment gateways like: 

• PayU: ₹130 Cr.
• Easebuzz: ₹33.4 Cr.
• Razorpay: ₹18 Cr.
• Cashfree: ₹10.6 Cr.
• Paytm: ₹2.8 Cr.

The ED is tracking funds and checking if rules were followed. However, this incident raises the question, “Should cryptocurrency be banned?”

Leading FMCG companies like ITC, Nestle, Amul, Dabur, and Marico are expanding with their own e-commerce platforms across multiple cities.

They are:

• Offering discounts of up to 30% to attract new customers
• Introducing subscription models and full product ranges on their platforms

This D2C approach will help FMCGs save on distributor and retailer margins, enabling them to offer competitive pricing. 

The shift aligns with India's growing preference for online shopping.

What's better: Company → Amazon → You, or Company → You?

Walmart is working with 3 Indian startups to improve its supply chain.

• KBCols Sciences: Testing natural dyes made from agricultural waste to replace harmful synthetic dyes.

• GreenPod Labs: Using plant-based sachets to keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer during transport.

• Cropin: Using AI to predict crop yields and improve the supply of fresh produce.

Walmart aims to reduce waste, improve quality, and create more sustainable solutions. Will this new move be as successful as Walmart’s Flipkart deal?

Delhivery launches "Rapid Commerce", a 2-hour delivery for D2C brands, focusing on:

• Beauty

• Fashion

• Electronics

Already handling 300+ orders daily in Bengaluru, planning to expand to Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai.

The company’s reach is widespread, with 3,645 express centres and 41,656 last-mile partners.

Revenue jumped from ₹4,191 Cr. (FY22) to ₹5,077 Cr. (FY24), with an 11% Y-o-Y growth in shipments.

It's using shared dark stores, allowing multiple companies to use the same space for faster and more cost-effective deliveries. 

Will Delhivery be able to beat Zepto?

The streaming platform is raising prices in:

• The US

• Argentina 

• Canada

• Portugal

Premium plans going up by 8%, standard plans rising 11% and the ad-supported standard plan will increase by 14%.

This increase is spurred on by the addition of 4.1 crore new subscribers in 2024 and a 16% profit increase.

The company aims for a 29% operating margin for 2025, focusing on content investment and ad growth.

Find out how a DVD rental service became a global streaming giant!

Navi Technologies, founded by Sachin Bansal ( Flipkart co-founder), lost ₹14.26 crore to a scam in December 2024.

Fraudsters found a flaw in the app’s payment system, letting them change transaction amounts after starting payments.

They pretended to make big payments but reduced the amount to ₹1, tricking the system while Navi was charged the full amount.

Bengaluru’s Cyber Crime Police are now investigating the fraud.

Even big companies are being targeted by online scammers. Find out how these fintech frauds unfold!

Here are the plans:

• NPCI may set a low fee (0.6%-0.7%) for wallet-based UPI payments.

• Currently, wallets charge 1.1% on payments above ₹2,000. 

• The plan aims to encourage wallets like Paytm and Amazon Pay to promote UPI payments.

• This could reduce bank exposure and make payments safer.

In December 2024:

• UPI handled ₹6.3 lakh crore in payments

• Wallets processed ₹9,239 crore

With NPCI's plan, wallets might now grow bigger in UPI.

UPI has been changing habits since its launch. Will it reshape how people handle payments again?

PharmEasy, an online pharmacy startup, is set to revisit its IPO plans in 2025, two years after its first attempt.

• The company will formally discuss IPO plans with its board in February.

• A reverse merger with its listed subsidiary, Thyrocare, is under consideration.

This move aims to leverage PharmEasy's improved cash flow and restructured business model to attract public investors. 

Moreover, companies like Boat, Ola Consumer, and Oyo, which delayed IPOs due to market conditions and other reasons, have recently revived listing plans.

Is this the year for Indian startup IPOs?

Adani Group has hired two top US law firms, Kirkland & Ellis and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. 

They’ll defend the group against the SEC and the Eastern District of New York charges.

• Allegations include over ₹2,100 crore ($250 million) in bribes to Indian officials for solar energy contracts for Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL).

In November 2024, AGEL clarified that Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, and Vneet S. Jaain weren’t charged under the US FCPA.

If you don’t know, the OCCRP and the Hindenburg reports also raised allegations against Adani in the past.

• Brightchamps (EdTech firm) acquired Edjust, a K12 education marketplace.

• This is Brightchamps' 4th acquisition to improve sales practices and launch Math, Science, and English courses.

• The platform already offers programming, AI, and financial literacy courses for ages 6-16.

• Brightchamps operates in 30 countries, with most revenue from the US and online classes.

• Revenue grew 64% in 2024; the company has raised ~₹544.88 Cr. ($63 million) from major investors.

Will Brightchamps' aggressive acquisitions pay off, or will it lead to bankruptcy as it did for Byju's?

After Tata Group's takeover, Air India now has nearly 300 planes (up from 70) and plans to add 600 more in the next 10 years.

Rise in market share:

• Domestic: 30%

• International: 21%

Revenue has grown 70%, with: 

• 40% more earnings per seat

• Business class revenue up 2.3x

Air India's loyalty members have increased from 30 L  to 1 Cr. with active members growing significantly.

Such an improvement is surprising since aviation was Tata's loss-making segment in FY24. Find out how much!

The Indian government may waive ₹1 lakh crore in Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) dues for telecom companies.

• The relief includes a 50% waiver on interest and 100% on penalties

• Vi’s dues may be reduced by over ₹52,000 crore and Airtel’s by nearly ₹38,000 crore

The waiver aims to ease financial stress on telcos following the 2019 Supreme Court ruling that imposed ₹1.47 lakh crore in AGR dues. 

Analysts believe this would prevent the telecom market from becoming a private-sector duopoly. 

Will this waiver transform India’s telecom market?

Mutual Funds reshuffled their portfolios in December, selling over ~₹8,400 Cr. worth of stocks:

Top Sells:

• HDFC Bank (₹1,290 crore), ITC, Titan, and Swiggy
• PSUs like REC and HAL, along with TCS and Bajaj Finance

Top Buys:

• Reliance Industries (₹5,700 crore), Vishal Mega Mart (₹4,200 crore)
• PSU banks: SBI, Union Bank, and Indian Bank

As an investor, you don't need to worry, your portfolio will remain safe as long as you focus on diversification and long-term growth opportunities.

FMCG companies like Parle, HUL, ITC, and Adani Wilmar are launching exclusive product packs for online platforms.

• Parle is offering ₹50-₹100 packs online while reserving up to ₹30 packs only for kiranas and ₹120-₹150 packs for retailers.
• ITC is doing the same for its brands, including Engage perfume, Savlon handwash, etc.
• Other firms are on the same path to roll out separate packs.

This strategy protects kirana stores from competition with quick commerce platforms.

Will this bold move save the kiranas around you?

Further, explore how HUL and ITC are leading the FMCG sector!

• Early investors in Oyo, like Lightspeed and Peak XV, are selling their stake, valued at ₹33,540 Cr.
• Peak XV recently sold off a part of its remaining 3% stake and made ₹688 - ₹774 Cr. in profits.
• Since 2019, both investors have sold off stakes worth ~₹12,040 Cr. (as of today).
• Founder Ritesh Agarwal is putting ₹550 Cr. more into the company.
• Oyo’s ₹4,422 Cr. purchase of G6 Hospitality is expected to increase profits significantly by FY26.

Is Oyo losing investor confidence because of its past layoffs and financial losses, or is it finally on the road to recovery?

India's once valuable startup- Byju’s, now faces serious financial and legal troubles, including allegations of fund mismanagement and fraud.

• In 2021, the company raised ~₹9,120 crore ($1.2 billion) from US investors to expand globally.
• In 2024, a controversial ~₹4,477 crore ($533 million) transfer to a Miami-based hedge fund alarmed creditors.

US creditors now face significant losses with little hope of recovery.

Byju’s case has raised concerns about the sustainability of India's booming startup ecosystem.

How can India safeguard its startup ecosystem?

• Meta plans to reduce 5% of its 72,400 employees.

• CEO Mark Zuckerberg aims to improve efficiency by addressing low performance.

• US-based staff will receive notifications by 10 February, with global updates following.

• Affected employees will be offered substantial severance packages.

• The company is prioritising advancements in AI and immersive technology.

• Despite these layoffs, Meta intends to recruit new talent later in 2025 to support its evolving goals.

Is AI the future of work? Does Meta's AI shift signal the end of human jobs? What does it mean for corporate priorities?

PepsiCo enters the race to acquire a minority stake in Haldiram Snacks Food, competing with Temasek and Alpha Wave Global.

The Aggarwal family, founders of Haldiram, are seeking their first external investment, valuing the company at ₹85,000–₹90,000 crore.

• PepsiCo, the maker of Lay's chips, Kurkure, and Doritos nacho, faces intense competition in India's snack sector.

• It's aiming to leverage Haldiram's strong presence in the desi snacks market.

Who’ll get to snack on Haldiram's dominance?

Did you know that Haldiram was planning for its IPO in 2024?

• The INR may weaken to 87/$ by March 2025, driven by US tariff threats and the dominance of USD (the global currency). 

• RBI interventions have slowed the fall, but the rupee has dropped 1.6% since November 2024.

• Forecasts suggest the rupee could range between 86.25 and 88.00 by March.

• Economists cite global factors like US policies, China's strategies, and Fed actions as key drivers.

Will the RBI be able to manage the rupee's fall in the coming months in this game of dollar vs rupee?

Walmart-backed PhonePe enters the quick commerce market, a first for a payments company.

Its e-commerce venture, Pincode, offers 15-minute deliveries in 6 cities: 

• Bengaluru

• Mumbai

• New Delhi

• Pune

• Hyderabad

• Varanasi

Pincode uses a hybrid delivery model, combining its own fleet and partnering with local kiranas and modern retail stores instead of operating through dark stores. 

It has even onboarded logistic services of Swiggy, Shadowfax, and Loadshare to support deliveries.

Will PhonePe’s leap into quick commerce with Pincode pay off like its Indus Appstore?