Hindustan Unilever has made a significant acquisition, purchasing online premium skincare brand Minimalist for a whopping ₹2,955 crore, as per an exchange filing. The FMCG giant has secured a deal to acquire a 90.5 per cent stake in the brand. This strategic move from Hindustan Unilever will see Minimalist being added to the company’s Beauty & Wellbeing portfolio, expanding its presence in high-demand sectors.
In other news, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with VPPL, a joint venture between JNPA (Government of India) and Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), a government entity of Maharashtra. The filing states that HUDCO will explore and provide funding up to Rs 25,000 crore for the development of new ports/PPP projects of VPPL.
Zydus Lifesciences has received Orphan Drug Designation from the US health regulator for Usnoflast, a product currently in development for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The US Food and Drug Administration grants orphan status to support the development of medicines for rare diseases affecting fewer than two lakh people in the US.
Waaree Energies has announced the commencement of commercial production of solar modules at its manufacturing facility in the US. The homegrown company is the first Indian renewable energy firm to establish a PV module manufacturing facility in Brookshire, Texas, United States.
Piramal Critical Care, a division of Piramal Pharma, has launched Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride for Injection, USP in the US market. This launch signifies PCC’s continued expansion of its generic injectables portfolio.
Paras Defence and Space Technologies has signed an MoU with the Government of Maharashtra for the proposed Optics Park Project in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. The project is slated to begin in 2028, with the company planning to invest approximately ₹12,000 crore in the Optics Park over a 10-year period upon the allocation of land and necessary subsidies by the government.
Moody’s Ratings has revised Bharti Airtel’s outlook to positive and affirmed its Baa3 ratings.
Laurus Labs has informed the exchanges that its US arm has received a Form 483 with one observation from the USFDA for an inspection conducted between January 13, 2025, and January 21, 2025.
Sammaan Capital has announced the approval of a Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) offering at a floor price of ₹151.09 per share by its board. The company had previously received shareholders’ nod to raise funds through the issuance of equity shares.
Lastly, Shiva Cement Ltd, a subsidiary of JSW Cement Ltd, has inked a ₹380-crore deal with Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd (BPSL) for the establishment of a 1MTPA cement grinding unit.
Effwa Infra & Research, a NSE-Emerge listed company, has secured an export order worth $4.29 million from Afcons Infrastructure for the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of EMI components for a 16.5 MLD WTP in Ivory Coast. The order is expected to be completed within 9 months.
In the upcoming days, companies such as UltraTech Cement, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Indus Towers, United Spirits, and others are expected to announce their financial results.
