Flipkart Sells Stake in Aditya Birla Fashion in ₹582-Crore Bulk Deal

Walmart-owned Flipkart has offloaded its entire stake in Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd (ABFRL) through a bulk deal valued at ₹582 crore. The transaction marks Flipkart’s complete exit from ABFRL, where it previously held a 6% stake.

Stake Sale Details and Pricing

Flipkart Investments sold all 73.17 million shares in ABFRL at a floor price of ₹79.50 per share, which was a 7.5% discount compared to the previous BSE closing price of ₹85.98. Goldman Sachs acted as the sole book runner for the deal.

This strategic exit comes amid a broader trend in Indian capital markets, where promoters and institutional investors are capitalizing on a market rebound to monetize their holdings.

Market Reaction: ABFRL Shares Plunge Over 10%

Following the bulk deal announcement, ABFRL’s stock price fell sharply:

• On the BSE, the share price closed at ₹76.79, a 10.69% drop.

• On the NSE, shares declined by 10.37%, closing at ₹77.08.

The negative market sentiment reflects investor concerns about institutional exits and the potential short-term impact on stock valuation.

A Broader Trend: Promoters Cashing In

Flipkart’s stake sale adds to the wave of large shareholder exits in recent weeks. According to Prime Database, promoters and institutional investors sold shares worth ₹43,400 crore in May 2025 alone.

Notably, British American Tobacco (BAT) reduced its 25.4% stake in ITC by 2.5%, raising ₹12,927 crore. Market experts suggest that strong equity market performance is prompting long-term investors to book profits and rebalance portfolios.

ABFRL’s Business Transformation: Madura Demerger and New Listing

ABFRL is currently undergoing significant business restructuring, having demerged its Madura Fashion & Lifestyle unit into a separate company called Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Ltd (ABLBL). This entity is expected to be listed by June-end 2025.

ABLBL will manage premium and casualwear brands such as:

• Louis Philippe

• Van Heusen

• Allen Solly

• Peter England

• Reebok

• American Eagle

• Forever 21

• Van Heusen Innerwear

Meanwhile, ABFRL will retain Pantaloons, Sabyasachi, and The Collective, streamlining its focus on value and luxury segments.

Financial Performance: FY25 Losses and FY26 Turnaround Plan

For FY25, ABFRL reported:

• Net Sales: ₹7,355 crore

• Net Loss: ₹587 crore

The company acknowledged the ongoing financial stress, mainly attributed to its loss-making segments. In an earnings call last week, ABFRL stated it will invest ₹500 crore in FY26 to revive underperforming businesses.

The targeted turnaround includes:

• TCNS Clothing (owns women’s wear brand W)

• Tasva (wedding and ethnic menswear)

• TMRW (digital-first D2C brand aggregator)

EBITDA Goals and Long-Term Outlook

ABFRL’s management expects to be EBITDA-positive by FY26, excluding losses from TMRW. According to Ashish Dikshit, Managing Director at ABFRL:

“The biggest margin improvement will come from turning around negative EBITDA businesses—TCNS being the largest, followed by Tasva and TMRW.”

He added that TMRW is likely to turn profitable by FY28, while all other business verticals are expected to become profitable by FY27.

Flipkart’s Strategic Exit Reflects Market Dynamics

Flipkart’s decision to exit ABFRL aligns with broader trends in India’s capital markets, where strategic investors are realigning portfolios, especially after periods of sustained growth. The move allows Flipkart to potentially redirect funds toward its core e-commerce and fintech operations.