Reliance Bodhi Tree 60 Percent Stake in Disney India Merger Valuing 3.5 Billion US Dollars Operation

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance is close to merging its Indian media business with Walt Disney for a 51 per cent-54 per cent stake. The deal is believed to value the US giant’s Indian operations at $3.5 billion (roughly Rs. 29,043 crores). Bodhi Tree, a joint business between James Murdoch and former Disney top executive Uday Shankar, is also set to take about 9 per cent stake in the new merger, three of its sources told a news agency.

by Reuters Report According to the report, the valuation of Disney’s India unit is much lower than the $15-$16 billion (roughly Rs. 1,24,475 crores – Rs. 1,32,774 crores) it was valued at when Disney acquired it in 2019. Disney’s TV and streaming business in India has been struggling. For years, its digital platform has faced an exodus of users amid stiff competition on cricket streaming with Ambani’s platform.

The deal will strengthen Reliance’s grip on India’s $28 billion (about Rs 2,32,351 crore) media and entertainment market, especially after the failure of a $10 billion (about Rs 82,982 crore) merger deal between Japan’s Sony and India’s Zee Entertainment last week.

Reliance, Disney and Bodhi Tree had not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment at the time of writing, according to the report.

Reliance and Disney own 120 television channels along with a streaming service. Certainly, if this merger happens, it can have a big impact on competitors.