MAM
ADK expands footprint to India, acquires Rage Communications
Mumbai: Japanese major ADK on Monday announced the acquisition of Rage Communications, an India-based independent agency that specialises in digital experience design and e-commerce solutions. As part of the agreement, Rage will be rebranded as ADK Rage.
“The deal accelerates both companies’ commitment to drive outcome-focused digital marketing and advertising campaigns for clients by bringing together their capabilities, in data-driven insights, and content narrative,” said the statement.
The acquisition will see ADK becoming the major shareholder, while Rage’s founders JRK Rao and Karthik Kumar remain as minority shareholders. Rao will continue to lead as chief executive officer of ADK Rage. Rao and Kumar, will be working closely with ADK global team to reach client companies in the digital domain.
“This partnership marks our milestone entry into the India and Australia markets – two of the fastest-growing digital markets in the APAC region,” said ADK Global Operations CEO Yasuyuki Katagi. “With Rage, we will immediately gain traction at a brand consultancy level, providing a strong starting point for the further growth in these key markets. We are also extremely excited at the collaboration opportunities to supercharge growth for our clients together. The new ADK Rage will offer clients with differentiated industry expertise, unparalleled partnerships, unique intellectual property, a full-service digital innovation offering and compelling scale.”
Headquartered in Chennai, Rage offers a full stack of solutions across CX, CRM, UI/UX and performance marketing solutions for clients around the world. Through its offices in India, Australia (Sydney) and Singapore, the agency provides services to marquee brands and companies.
“This partnership with ADK is a significant moment in the growth of Rage as it opens new horizons in a rapidly changing global economy,” commented JRK Rao and Karthik Kumar. “Our two companies share the same vision in the digital transformation of businesses and their interactions with consumers. It is our hope that our combined strengths will add greater value to our existing clients and reach out to the larger marketing community around the world. This also represents substantial opportunities for our respective staffs to work together in an increasingly technology-led multicultural world.”
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
