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Flipkart and Snapdeal Merger No More

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The much talked about and hyped merger between the two home grown ecommerce rivals Flipkart and Snapdeal has been officially canceled. The Gurgaon based startup wants to pursue an ‘independent path’ and therefore will terminate all other strategic discussions, including the merger talks with Flipkart.

Termed as one of the biggest consolidation in the Indian ecommerce ecosystem, this merger has been the most talked about acquisition for the past five months with countless board meetings and multiple twists. A Snapdeal spokesperson in a statement said Snapdeal has been exploring various strategic options over the past several months and has finally decided to pursue an independent path. The spokesperson also added, Snapdeal has a new and compelling direction Snapdeal 2.0 and have made significant progress towards the ability to execute this by achieving a gross profit this month.

Both the majority shareholders of Flipkart and Snapdeal, Tiger Global and SoftBank had been pushing for this merger. SoftBank, which presently owns more than 47% of Snapdeal, would also invest in the merged entity and buy out one third of Tiger Global’s Flipkart shares. According to various reports, SoftBank might still invest in Flipkart and not continue its association with Snapdeal.

A spokesperson for Softbank said they will remain invested in the vibrant Indian ecommerce space and look forward to the results of the Snapdeal 2.0 strategy. They also added both Masayoshi Son’s and SoftBank’s investment philosophy has always been supporting entrepreneurs and their vision and aspirations. Therefore they respect Snapdeal’s decision to pursue an independent strategy.

Cofounders of Snapdeal Kunal Bahl and Rohit Bansal have been hesitant to merge with Flipkart since the very beginning, fighting SoftBank tooth and nail to prevent the deal. They have also been in talks with senior executives of various firms looking for alternative routes. Reports also mentioned the founders were also in talks with business to business major Infibeam, for a possible merger.

Flipkart’s revised termsheet also held various holdbacks and clauses as protection from all the decisions taken by the Snapdeal board that might have an effect on the company after the merger for a period of two years. The new clauses laid the blame of any wrongdoing on the Snapdeal shareholders and held back a part of the money for the first couple of years. Ratan Tata, Foxconn, Temasek and BlackRock had given their in principal approval for the merger. The approval of 26 other shareholders was required for the deal to go through.

Snapdeal found a little breathing space after the sale of its online digital payments platform FreeCharge to Axis Bank in a Rs. 385 crores all cash deal. The all cash sale provided Snapdeal with the ammunition necessary to remain independent for a couple of more years and retain their control over the online market space. Post the sale of FreeCharge Kunal Bahl, in an email to all employees, termed the acquisition a great outcome calling the second chance an opportunity of a lifetime they must seize. Snapdeal has also been looking to sell their logistic arm Vulcan Express.

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PayU Gets Final RBI Nod to Operate as Payment Aggregator Ahead of 2025 IPO

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PayU India, owned by Prosus, has received final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as an online payment aggregator, a year after getting in-principle approval in April 2024. This authorization allows PayU to onboard new merchants and offer digital payment solutions, joining other major players like Razorpay, CCAvenue, and BillDesk.

The RBI’s nod comes as PayU prepares for its planned IPO in the second half of 2025, following a delay from its original 2024 timeline due to market conditions. The company, which serves over 450,000 merchants, reported $319 million in revenue from its core payments and credit business in the first half of FY25.

PayU stated that the approval will help it build a resilient, compliant, and innovation-driven institution, supporting merchants of all sizes and advancing the Digital India vision. The company has also strengthened its risk management and expanded its presence in real-time payments through a strategic stake in Mindgate Solutions.

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Google’s Iconic ‘G’ Logo Gets First Update in 10 Years

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Google has refreshed its iconic ‘G’ logo for the first time in nearly 10 years, replacing the familiar solid blocks of red, yellow, green, and blue with a smooth, vibrant gradient that blends these colors seamlessly. This subtle update gives the logo a softer, more fluid, and modern appearance, aligning with Google’s evolving digital identity and current design trends.

The new gradient transitions smoothly from red to yellow, yellow to green, and green to blue, making the logo more visually appealing and adaptable across various devices, especially on mobile platforms. This redesign also reflects Google’s growing emphasis on artificial intelligence, echoing the gradient style used in the branding of Google Gemini, the company’s AI-generative assistant.

The updated ‘G’ logo has started rolling out on iOS through the Google Search app and on some Android devices, particularly Pixel phones running the Google app beta version 16.18. However, most other platforms, including the web and non-Pixel Android devices, still display the classic solid-color logo. A wider rollout is expected in the coming weeks.

So far, Google’s main wordmark and other product logos like Chrome, Maps, and Gmail remain unchanged. Given the shift toward gradient designs and AI-inspired visuals, similar updates to other Google icons may follow in the future.

In summary, this first major update to the ‘G’ logo since 2015 signals a subtle but meaningful shift in Google’s branding strategy, blending tradition with innovation as the company deepens its focus on AI and modern design aesthetics.

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Ixigo Halts Bookings for Flights and Hotels to Turkey, China

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Indian online travel platform ixigo has suspended all flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan in response to these countries expressing support for Pakistan after India’s military strikes-dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’-against terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The move, announced by CEO Aloke Bajpai on X, was described as an act of solidarity with India during heightened diplomatic tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.

ixigo’s decision aligns with similar actions by other Indian travel companies, including EaseMyTrip and Cox & Kings, which have also restricted travel services to Turkey, China, and Azerbaijan. The suspensions come amid widespread calls for boycotts after these countries condemned India’s military response and backed Pakistan.

The travel industry’s collective response underscores how geopolitical developments are influencing business decisions, with Indian companies emphasizing national interests and unity in the face of international criticism

 

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