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NDS announces sale of OpenBet
MUMBAI: NDS, which provides technology solutions for digital pay-TV, has announced that it has signed an agreement pursuant to which funds managed by Vitruvian Partners will back a management buyout of OpenBet.
Open Bet, an NDS subsidiary, provides online gaming and betting technology and software solutions.
The sale is part of NDS‘ strategy to stick to its core market- the digital pay-TV technology sector.
Vitruvian and management will acquire OpenBet for a cash consideration of ?208 million. NDS will use the proceeds for general corporate purposes.
The completion of the transaction is conditional upon the receipt of certain regulatory approvals. At completion, Vitruvian will assume a majority holding in OpenBet with the remaining stake held by OpenBet Management. David Loveday, chief executive officer of OpenBet, and the existing senior management team will continue in their roles.
NDS chairman and CEO Abe Peled said, “We have taken great pride in supporting the continued growth of OpenBet and its transformation into a leading provider of technology solutions to the gaming industry. The sale of OpenBet will help accelerate that growth in a consolidating market and allow NDS to focus further on continued growth in our core market – the digital pay-TV technology sector.”
OpenBet CEO David Loveday said; “Vitruvian have a deep understanding of our business in both the online gaming and retail sectors. Their backing will enable OpenBet to continue to grow its business worldwide, with both existing customers and future opportunities.
“As the leader in its field, the support and technical expertise of NDS has been invaluable to the success of OpenBet. This transaction will help ensure that OpenBet remains at the forefront of online and retail technology for the gaming industry both in terms of the solutions it offers and services.”
Vitruvian Managing Partner Ian Riley said, “OpenBet is a high-growth technology business with a strong reputation, proven track record and impressive client portfolio. We are delighted to be backing David and his team and to be able to help support the continued development of the business.”
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
