Bodhi Tree expands Viacom18 stake with strategic investment

Bodhi Tree Systems, endorsed by James Murdoch and former leader of Star and Disney India, Uday Shankar, has successfully completed a significant business move. They have invested a substantial amount of Rs 953.23 crore to secure an additional interest of 2.89% in Viacom18, according to media reports.
The acquisition of this supplementary shareholding was executed from Reliance Industries Limited, contributing to the expansion of Bodhi Tree System's influence. This transaction, which reached its conclusion in recent times, appraised Viacom18 at an impressive value of Rs 32,983 crore. With the integration of this newfound stake, Bodhi Tree's possession of Viacom18 has been elevated to a noteworthy 15.97%. Notably, an earlier purchase in April involved the acquisition of a 13.08% stake in Viacom18 for a substantial sum of Rs 4,306 crore.
To facilitate this stake attainment, Bodhi Tree employed the substantial capital of $150 million procured from NBC Universal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corp, as well as Tikehau Capital, a global alternative asset manager. This move has not only increased Bodhi Tree's presence but also exemplified their strong financial strategies in the business landscape.