MUMBAI: Saregama has snapped up a further 36.63 per cent of Pocket Aces for a cool Rs 127.47 crore. This latest splurge, a second tranche if you will, pushes Saregama's ownership to a dominant 90.37 per cent, leaving little room for anyone else at the digital buffet.
The deal, finalised on 29 March 2025, sees Saregama hoovering up a veritable smorgasbord of shares, from equity to an array of convertible preference shares. Pocket Aces, boasting a digital empire of 175 million followers across its FilterCopy, Dice Media, Nutshell and Gobble channels, and a talent roster of over 215 influencers via Clout, is now firmly under Saregama's wing. The company declared this to the BSE through a regulatory filing on Saturday.
Pocket Aces, with a back catalogue of over 35,000 content pieces, from digital originals to those ubiquitous reels, is a digital goldmine for Saregama, keen to woo the 18-35 demographic.
Pocket Aces' financials reveal a turnover of Rs 8859.17 lakhs for FY 24, a slight dip from the previous year's Rs 10267.93 lakhs, but Saregama is betting on synergies, not just spreadsheets. The acquisition, which includes a related party transaction with a Pocket Aces director – all done "at arm's length", naturally – is being touted as a strategic masterstroke.
"This isn't just about owning content; it's about owning the conversation," an industry observer chirped, with the knowledge that Pocket Aces' vast network can be used by Saregama to turbocharge its music library.
With influencers, long-form content, and snackable reels all under one roof, Saregama is clearly aiming to be the king of the digital jungle.