MAM
Vijaypat Singhania, former Raymond chairman, dies at 87
Padma Bhushan awardee and record-breaking aviator leaves behind a towering legacy in Indian industry.
MUMBAI: The man who once took Raymond to new heights and literally soared higher than anyone in a hot air balloon has flown his final journey. Former Raymond chairman Vijaypat Singhania died peacefully in Mumbai on Saturday evening at the age of 87. His son Gautam Singhania, the group’s current chairman and managing director, announced the news on X. The last rites will be performed on Sunday, a Raymond Group spokesperson confirmed.
A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Singhania was not only a prominent industrialist but also a passionate aviator who held a world record for the highest altitude gained in a hot air balloon. He steered Raymond as chairman for two decades until 2000. After handing over leadership to Gautam, he transferred his entire 37 per cent stake in the company to his son.
Singhania and Gautam were once embroiled in public legal disputes, but the family later resolved their differences.
From building a textile empire to chasing records in the skies, Vijaypat Singhania lived a life marked by ambition and altitude. In an industry known for sharp turns, his journey was one that truly rose above the ordinary.
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.
