Zomato and IRCTC Alliance: Stocks Climb to a 52-Week High

By Author

Published on October 21, 2023

In a significant business move, Zomato, the renowned food tech giant, has entered into a collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), setting off a positive rally in its stock prices. This partnership marks Zomato’s venture into the expansive world of Indian railways, offering pre-ordered meal supply and delivery to passengers.

A Strategic Alliance

Initially, the project is set to roll out as a pilot at five major railway stations - New Delhi, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi. Travellers can now easily book their meals via IRCTC’s e-catering portal, adding a layer of convenience and expanding food options during their journeys.

This collaboration allows Zomato to broaden its service spectrum, reaching out to the vast number of railway passengers across the country. On the other hand, IRCTC benefits by diversifying the food choices available to passengers, enhancing the overall travel experience.

Stock Market Response

The announcement of this partnership resonated positively in the stock market, with Zomato's share prices soaring to a 52-week high of INR 115. The shares settled at INR 113.90 during Tuesday's session and opened at INR 114.25 on Wednesday, showcasing the investors' positive sentiment towards this strategic alliance.

A Win-Win Situation

This partnership is expected to be a game changer. For Zomato, it’s an opportunity to tap into a new customer base, bringing their quality service to train passengers. For IRCTC, it ensures passengers have access to a variety of quality meals, enhancing their travel experience.

Zomato's entrance into the railway catering sector, combined with the company’s recent profitability, has instilled confidence among investors, reflecting in the surge of its stock prices. As the company navigates through the challenges of maintaining profitability amidst varying macroeconomic factors, collaborations like these play a pivotal role in sustaining growth.

Moving Forward

As both entities step into this promising journey, passengers can look forward to an enriched travel experience, marked by a variety of delectable meal options at their fingertips. The ease of accessing and enjoying a diverse range of culinary delights promises to redefine train journeys in India.

In the world of stocks, investors are keeping a close eye on Zomato, as strategic moves like these can significantly influence the company’s stock performance in the coming days. It underscores the dynamic nature of the market, where collaborations can not only expand business horizons but also create ripples in stock market trends.

ITC Hotels Demerger Could Lead to Passive Outflow of USD 180 Million: Nuvama

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 8, 2025

Following the demerger of ITC Hotels from its parent company, ITC Ltd., domestic brokerage firm Nuvama has predicted a passive outflow of approximately USD 180 million. This corporate action will have a notable impact on major indices such as Nifty50 and Sensex, with expected passive outflows of USD 110 million and USD 70 million, respectively.

Nuvama's analysis suggests that assuming ITC’s share price remains stable around INR 260 at the time of exclusion, the passive flow for Nifty50 will amount to USD 110 million (with a weight of 23 basis points), while Sensex will experience an outflow of USD 70 million (with a weight of 28 basis points).

A special price discovery session was held to adjust ITC’s share price, resulting in an INR 26 adjustment on NSE and INR 27 on BSE as the stock began trading ex-demerger on January 6. The demerger ratio of 1:10 (one share of ITC Hotels for every 10 shares of ITC Ltd.) has led to the valuation of ITC Hotels at approximately INR 260 on the Nifty50 indices and INR 270 on BSE indices.

Until ITC Hotels is officially listed separately, it will be treated as a "dummy entity" with a fixed price, and the stock will be held at this value temporarily. According to Nuvama, ITC Hotels is expected to be listed within the next 30-40 days. Following the listing, ITC Hotels will be removed from all NSE and BSE indices at its last traded price, effective at the opening on the listing date, with a three-day adjustment period. If the stock hits circuit limits, the exclusion will be postponed by two trading days for each occurrence.

Nuvama also noted that ITC Hotels may qualify for inclusion in the MSCI Global Small Cap Indexes, but this will only happen if the stock is listed within 20 working days after the record date of the demerger.

ITC Demerger: Special Session Held to Discover ITC Hotels Share Price

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 7, 2025

In a landmark move, ITC Ltd has begun its long-awaited demerger of ITC Hotels, with BSE and NSE conducting special pre-open trading sessions today to facilitate price discovery for the hotel business. This strategic restructuring allows ITC Hotels to operate independently, focusing exclusively on hospitality.

During the session, ITC Hotels' share price will be computed using ITC Ltd's closing and adjusted prices, incorporating a 1:10 demerger ratio. Analysts predict the shares to list between ₹150 and ₹200, with some forecasts suggesting a range of ₹200 to ₹300 based on valuations and growth prospects.

As of today, ITC Ltd's 36 lakh shareholders will receive one ITC Hotels share for every 10 ITC shares held. While ITC Hotels shares won’t officially list yet, a dummy ticker will represent the stock on indices like Nifty and Sensex until formal listing in a few weeks.

ITC retains a 40% stake in the demerged entity, with the remaining 60% distributed among shareholders. Analysts from Ambit Capital and Nomura see this as a step toward value unlocking, with ITC Hotels poised to capitalize on India's luxury hospitality sector. Asset-light models and a pure-play focus will drive future growth and profitability.

ITC’s stock price is expected to adjust downward by ₹22–₹25 due to the demerger. Experts believe this could be a temporary dip, providing an opportunity for retail investors to accumulate shares of ITC Hotels. Meanwhile, ITC Ltd aims to sharpen its focus on its high-margin FMCG business, which has seen substantial EBITDA growth.

Nomura analyst Mihir P Shah remarked, "The demerger unlocks significant value, allowing ITC Hotels to access equity and debt markets for future growth while benefiting from India's luxury hospitality sector’s re-rating."

While ITC shares ended last week at ₹482 on the BSE, underperforming over the past year, this demerger sets the stage for a potential re-rating as ITC pivots toward a leaner business model with enhanced focus on profitability.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by experts are their own and do not represent the views of Hospitality News India.)

ITC Increases Stake in Oberoi Group and Leela Mumbai Ahead of Hotel Arm Demerger

By Nishang Narayan

Published on December 20, 2024

In a strategic move ahead of the January 1, 2025, demerger of its hotel business, ITC has increased its stakes in two major players in the Indian hospitality industry. ITC has raised its shareholding in EIH Ltd, the parent company of Oberoi Hotels, to 16.13%, and in HLV Ltd, which owns The Leela Mumbai, to 8.11%.

As of September 2024, ITC held a 13.69% stake in EIH. By acquiring an additional 2.44%, equivalent to 1,52,32,129 equity shares, ITC now commands a 16.13% stake in the company. Similarly, ITC’s stake in HLV Ltd has increased from 7.58% to 8.11%, following the purchase of 34,60,829 equity shares.

In a regulatory filing, ITC announced, “...the company today has acquired 2.44 percent of the share capital (comprising 1,52,32,129 equity shares of INR 2 each) of EIH Ltd and 0.53 percent of the share capital (comprising 34,60,829 equity shares of INR 2 each) of HLV Ltd, from Russell Credit Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.”

This move is seen as a part of ITC’s preparation for the demerger of its hotel business, ITC Hotels, from its parent group. The demerger, set to take effect from January 1, 2025, is expected to unlock greater value for ITC’s stakeholders and enhance its focus on core operations.

With the increased stakes, ITC is cementing its presence in the premium and luxury hospitality segments, strengthening its relationship with iconic brands like Oberoi Hotels and The Leela Mumbai.

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