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Byju’s acquires Aakash Educational Services for nearly $1 billion
NEW DELHI: Aiming to bolster its presence in the offline test preparation segment, Indian ed-tech leader Byju's has acquired Aakash Educational Services (AESL). The deal is apparently worth $1 billion, making it the biggest acquisition by Byju's to date.
Aakash Educational Services is a 33-year-old chain of physical coaching centers, and with this acquisition, Byju's hopes to accelerate its offline growth. Backed by Blackstone, Aakash has more than 200 operational physical tutoring centers in India.
"This will be the largest integration in the education space in India, especially in the startup space. Covid has really opened the gates to online education significantly and going forward, we believe that all kinds of models in education will exist in K-12, test prep, and even higher education," AESL managing director Aakash Chaudhry told PTI.
Chaudhry added that the merger could help to deliver education through multiple channels, both offline and online. He asserted that Byju's will make further investments to accelerate the growth of Aakash after the integration. AESL will continue operating as a separate entity and will expand its operations in the country, he clarified.
"Our complementary strengths will enable us to build capabilities, create engaging and personalised learning programs. The future of learning is hybrid and this union will bring together the best of offline and online learning, as we combine our expertise to create impactful experiences for students," said Byju's CEO Byju Raveendran, as quoted by The Times of India.
Already touted as the biggest player in India’s booming ed-tech space, Byju's had acquired TutorVista and Edurite from Pearson in 2017, and Osmo in 2019. Last year, the company bought up coding training platform Whitehat Jr for $300 million.
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Bajaj Consumer Care FY26 profit rises to Rs 193.7 crore
Revenue climbs to Rs 1,092 crore as profit grows 49 per cent YoY
MUMBAI: Hair today, growth tomorrow Bajaj Consumer Care Limited seems to have found its shine again, posting a sharp jump in profitability even as it doubled down on brand spends and expansion. The company reported a net profit of Rs 193.7 crore for FY26, marking a strong 49 per cent rise from Rs 130.1 crore in FY25. Revenue from operations also grew to Rs 1,092.2 crore, up from Rs 942.8 crore a year earlier, signalling steady demand momentum across its portfolio.
For the March quarter, profit stood at Rs 64.1 crore, compared to Rs 31.5 crore in the corresponding period last year, while revenue rose to Rs 308.3 crore from Rs 243.5 crore.
The performance came despite a notable increase in spending. Advertising and sales promotion expenses climbed to Rs 168.3 crore in FY26, up from Rs 137.8 crore in FY25, reflecting continued investment in brand building. Other expenses also rose to Rs 151.3 crore from Rs 134.2 crore, indicating a broader push towards growth.
Operating efficiency, however, held firm. Profit before tax increased to Rs 234.8 crore in FY26 from Rs 157.7 crore a year earlier, supported by disciplined cost management across materials and inventory.
On the balance sheet, the company’s total assets expanded to Rs 959.1 crore as of March 31, 2026, compared to Rs 931.9 crore a year earlier. Other equity rose to Rs 780.3 crore, reinforcing a stronger financial base.
Cash flow from operations saw a significant uptick, reaching Rs 196.9 crore in FY26, nearly three times the Rs 67.9 crore recorded in FY25, highlighting improved working capital management.
However, the year also saw aggressive capital allocation. The company spent Rs 190.2 crore on share buybacks, contributing to a net cash outflow of Rs 196.5 crore from financing activities. Cash and cash equivalents stood at Rs 6.8 crore at the end of the year, down from Rs 25.6 crore.
Even as investments in subsidiaries and assets continued, the numbers suggest a company balancing growth ambitions with shareholder returns keeping one eye on expansion and the other on efficiency.
With margins improving and revenue steadily climbing, Bajaj Consumer Care appears to be combing through the competition with renewed confidence.
