Brands
RB expands its e-commerce product portfolio in India
MUMBAI: Reckitt Benckiser has expanded its e-commerce product portfolio by introducing Calgon 3-in-1 power gel water softener for washing machines and Airwick car fresheners to the Indian market. Calgon has been trusted to protect washing machines from limescale and dirt build-up for over 50 years. It is the only water softener recommended by global leading washing machine manufacturers like Bosch, Siemens and Whirlpool. With Airwick car fresheners, RB is marking its entry in the car freshener category for the first time.
Findings show that hard water is prevalent in multiple parts of the country, leading to formation of lime scale in household equipment including washing machines resulting in long term damage of the machine. Calgon works through the neutralization of the hard water mineral ions and creates a protective shield with every wash. It increases the lifespan of the washing machine. In addition, Calgon is safe to be used on all kinds of garments and prevents malodour in the machine; just one cap with every wash.
Airwick car fresheners are easy to use with a superior spill proof technology with 100% fragrance that lasts for upto 60 days giving the feeling of freshness with every drive. The product addresses the problem of malodour within the vehicle leaving the car smelling fresher and fragrant for longer.
Commenting on the launch, RB Hygiene Home, South Asia CMO & Marketing Director Sukhleen Aneja said, “As Reckitt Benckiser Hygiene Home, we are committed to bringing in superior – technologically advanced products to serve and add value to the growing consumer needs. E-commerce today allows us to test and incubate ideas before scaling them for the more traditional ‘Go to Market’ channels. With the introduction of Calgon and Airwick car fresheners, we are bringing products that are easy to use and address some key concerns that have been identified in our research.”
Growing at an annual rate of 31%, India is the fastest growing market for e-commerce in the world. E-commerce platforms have managed to build their own identity by providing solutions to the needs of Indian consumers. Both, Calgon and Airwick car fresheners are imported products and in their first phase will be sold exclusively on e-commerce platforms.
Calgon 3-in-1 power gel will be available in 750 ml pack at an introductory price of Rs 350. Airwick car fresheners will be available in two formats – vent clip and multi-surface clip, which will last upto 60 days and will be launched at an introductory price of Rs 199.
Brands
UpGrad to acquire Unacademy in share-swap deal, founders confirm
Proposed share-swap could unite two edtech rivals as sector eyes consolidation
MUMBAI: The Indian edtech sector may be inching toward another wave of consolidation, with online learning platform upGrad signing a term sheet to acquire rival Unacademy in an all stock transaction.
If completed, the deal would bring together two of the country’s most prominent education technology companies at a time when the sector is adjusting to slower demand and a sharper focus on profitability after the pandemic driven boom.
UpGrad founder and chairperson Ronnie Screwvala confirmed the development in a post on X, stating that Unacademy co-founder and chief executive Gaurav Munjal would continue to lead the company following the acquisition.
“We at upGrad have signed a term sheet to acquire Unacademy in an all stock deal, with founder and ceo Gaurav Munjal staying on to build Unacademy and focus on what it does best, creating online education products that learners love,” Screwvala wrote.
He added that the agreement includes a break fee provision if the transaction fails to close. Screwvala also said the combined entity could strengthen upGrad’s integrated learning model spanning K12 education, professional training and lifelong learning.
Unacademy confirmed that the proposed transaction will be executed through a 100 per cent share swap, with the valuation to be disclosed only after the deal closes and regulatory filings are completed.
Announcing the development on X, Munjal described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter for both companies and the wider edtech ecosystem.
He noted that Unacademy had spent the past year reshaping its operations to focus more sharply on online education products. Among the steps taken were consolidating company operated offline centres with franchise partners and launching a Rs 50 crore employee stock ownership plan buyback, in which around 40 per cent of former employees have already participated.
Munjal also highlighted the traction gained by Airlearn, the company’s language learning product, which he said is expanding in markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada.
“Our cash reserves as of today are more than $100 million,” he said.
The proposed deal also marks a turnaround from earlier talks between the two companies that had stalled over disagreements on valuation and structure. Previous discussions had placed Unacademy’s valuation in the range of $300 million to $400 million, according to media reports.
If the transaction goes through, Munjal will continue as co-founder and chief executive of Unacademy, focusing on building online learning products for students in India and global markets.
For upGrad, the acquisition would broaden its footprint across the education spectrum, from school level learning to professional upskilling and lifelong education.
The move comes as India’s edtech sector enters a more sober phase after years of rapid expansion. Companies across the industry have been trimming costs, restructuring operations and seeking scale to build more sustainable businesses.
Against that backdrop, the potential combination of upGrad and Unacademy could signal that the next phase of edtech growth may be driven less by blitzscaling and more by strategic partnerships and consolidation.
