Brands
Libas secures Rs 150 crore from IAF Series 5, a fund managed by ICICI Venture
Mumbai: Having cemented its position as India’s leading fast fashion omnichannel ethnic wear brand, Libas has successfully closed its first external funding round, with an investment of rupees 150 crore by IAF Series 5, a fund managed by ICICI Venture. Libas has fast-tracked its growth to become a leading force in the online fashion segment, captivating customers with its dynamic product range and innovative digital touchpoints. The latest funding round comes on the heels of Libas’ remarkable financial performance, with the bootstrapped brand crossing the coveted rupees 500 crore revenue mark in FY24 under the visionary leadership of Sidhant Keshwani and Sunil Keshwani.
The fresh capital is expected to add momentum to Libas’ strategy to further strengthen its omni-channel presence and ramp up its exclusive brand and retail outlets across key metros and tier 1/2/3 cities over the next few years. Libas plans to leverage its brand, design capabilities, technology infrastructure, supply chain network across channels to create true omnichannel business.
Speaking about the fundraise, Libas founder and CEO Sidhant Keshwani said, “The organised Indian apparel sector is expected to grow significantly in coming years and this investment will fuel expansion across categories, and geographies with a strong focus on omnichannel experience. Our collaboration with ICICI Venture, bolstered by their successful track record and managerial expertise, perfectly aligns with Libas’ vision to revolutionize the Indian ethnic wear market.”
“Libas under the leadership of Sidhant and Sunil Keshwani, through its focus on product quality, design and fast fashion, has become a well-established apparel brand for Indian women consumers. Libas has demonstrated industry leading growth characteristics in a capital efficient manner and plans to strengthen its digital presence while focussing on its offline expansion and omnichannel capabilities in the Indian market. The industry is expected to see organised players with focus on branding and omnichannel customer experience become brands of choice for the consumers,” said ICICI Venture senior director, private equity Gagandeep S Chhina.
The brand already has a strong online presence on platforms such as Flipkart and Myntra, alongside offline presence through EBOs, large format stores and multi-brand outlets. Notably, a significant portion of the revenue comes from the brand’s own D2C channels. Recently, the brand also announced Bollywood actress Kiara Advani as its brand ambassador. The campaign featuring Kiara Advani, titled ‘There’s Always a Libas’ has been widely praised for showcasing the brand’s commitment to versatility and inclusivity.
With a proven track record of success and a clear vision for the future, Libas is all set to redefine the retail experience and set new benchmarks of excellence in the industry.
KPMG acted as the exclusive transaction advisor to Libas.
JSA acted as the legal advisor to IAF Series 5, a fund managed by ICICI Venture.
Brands
Reserve Bank of India cancels Paytm Payments Bank licence
Central bank cites compliance failures; curbs tighten as wind-up looms
MUMBAI: India’s banking watchdog delivered its sharpest blow yet to Paytm Payments Bank, cancelling its licence and effectively ending its ability to operate as a bank under the law.
The Reserve Bank of India said the entity can no longer conduct banking business under the Banking Regulation Act, citing concerns that its affairs were not being run in the interest of depositors or the public and that it had failed to meet licence conditions.
The move escalates a crackdown that has been building for months. The bank had already been barred from onboarding new customers since March 11, 2022, and later faced restrictions on deposits, credit and wallet top-ups. In January 2024, the central bank ordered it to stop accepting fresh deposits, pointing to persistent non-compliance, including lapses in customer due diligence, use of funds and technology systems.
Operationally, the bank is now on a tight leash. It may process withdrawals of existing deposits and facilitate loan referrals through banking correspondents, but it cannot take fresh deposits.
The central bank said it would apply to the high court to wind up the bank.
Paytm sought to ringfence the fallout. In a regulatory filing, it said the licence cancellation applies to Paytm Payments Bank Limited, a separate entity, and should not be attributed to One 97 Communications. It added that there is no exposure or material business arrangement with the bank and that it operates independently, without Paytm’s board or management involvement.
“As informed earlier, Paytm (One 97 Communications Limited) and its services, which have been operating without interruption, will continue to operate uninterrupted. These include the Paytm app, Paytm UPI, Paytm Gold and all other services offered by its subsidiaries and associated companies,” the company said.
The distinction may reassure users of the app ecosystem, but the regulator’s verdict is unequivocal. After years of warnings, caps and curbs, the payments bank experiment at Paytm is being shut down—decisively, and with little room left to manoeuvre.
