


Byju Raveendran’s offshore footprint resurfaces in Aakash’s ₹250-cr fundraise
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. BENGALURU : The participation of Beeaar Investco Pte. Ltd, a little-known Singapore vehicle wholly owned by Byju Raveendran, may have exposed test-prep institution Aakash Educational Services Ltd’s ₹250‑crore rights issue to potential legal challenges.
The investment firm, which already holds about 16% in Aakash, has subscribed to rights worth ₹16 crore in the current round, even as edtech giant Byju’s parent, Think & Learn Pvt. Ltd (TLPL), has had its ₹25-crore cheque frozen over forex-compliance concerns, according to corporate filings and people familiar with the test-prep company's cap table. The twist is that the same Aakash shares held through Beeaar are alleged to be at the heart of Qatar Investment Authority’s, or QIA, the Gulf country's sovereign fund, arbitration award and global freezing orders.
Raveendran appears to retain a significant minority influence over Aakash through Beeaar, despite losing day-to-day operational control over TLPL, which is currently undergoing corporate insolvency. TLPL's ultimate ownership and control are yet to be settled, with bids in from interested suitors, including the Manipal Group and Ronnie Screwvala’s upGrad. Aakash’s directors have put TLPL's subscription on hold.
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