Swiggy eyes £1.03 billion in India’s second-biggest IPO of 2024
The share sale will be the country’s second-biggest stock offering this year, following Hyundai Motor India’s £2.5bn IPO in October
Sriharsha Majety,
MD and group CEO (centre), Rohit
Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy Foods, and
Rahul Bothra, CFO, at a press
conference announcing the IPO in
Mumbai last Wednesday (30)
By Eastern EyeNov 07, 2024
INDIAN food delivery giant Swiggy will likely price its $1.35 billion (£1.03bn) domestic initial public offering, which was due to open this week, at `371-`390 per share (£3.39-£3.57), sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
The IPO was scheduled to open for subscription from Wednesday (6) to Friday (8), the company’s red herring prospectus dated October 28 showed. Anchor investors bid for shares on Tuesday (5), as Eastern Eye went to press.
Swiggy is expected to list its shares on November 13, marking a significant milestone.
The share sale will be the country’s second-biggest stock offering this year, following Hyundai Motor India’s £2.5bn IPO in October, which had seen notably subdued interest from retail investors.
The food and grocery delivery firm, which competes with listed rival Zomato, will sell new shares worth $44.99bn (£411.2m), more than the `37.5bn originally planned. Existing shareholders, including Prosus and Tencent, are selling a total of 175.1 million shares to boost liquidity. Swiggy has in recent weeks cut its internal valuation goal twice by a combined 25 per cent due to volatility in the Indian stock markets. It was initially looking at a valuation of as much as £11.5bn, but following those cuts, it is now targeting £8.6bn.
Swiggy did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Despite recent jitters, India’s IPO market has been buoyant, with around 270 companies raising £9.66bn so far this year, well above the £5.6bn raised in all of 2023, LSEG data showed.
F1 25, the latest instalment in Codemasters’ long-running Formula One racing series, brings several updates to the track, headlined by the return of its narrative-driven Braking Point mode and an overhauled My Team experience. With the upcoming Brad Pitt-led Formula One film on the horizon, the game leans into its cinematic potential while continuing to offer a detailed and expansive racing simulator.
Braking Point returns
The story mode Braking Point, first introduced in F1 2021, makes its third appearance in F1 25. Designed to add off-track drama to the traditional race weekend, it continues the narrative arc that began in the earlier entries. While it includes some exaggerated storytelling elements, it provides players with a structured and character-driven experience alongside standard racing gameplay. Returning players will recognise the evolving personal and professional conflicts, while newcomers may need to catch up on the previous plotlines to fully engage with the story.
A new era for My Team
One of the most significant changes in F1 25 is a reimagined My Team mode. Moving away from the previous owner-driver concept, players now take on the role of a team principal managing an 11th Formula One team. This adds a new layer of strategy and decision-making, including managing team finances, facilities, and staff.
While not as complex as the now-discontinued F1 Manager series, the mode introduces more control than previous F1 titles, all delivered through streamlined and accessible menus. Crucially, unlike in F1 Manager, players aren’t confined to the pit wall; they can drive as one of their contracted drivers on race day, offering a hybrid management and simulation experience.
Integration with the upcoming F1 Film
F1 25 also incorporates elements from the forthcoming F1 film starring Brad Pitt. Players can select the fictional APX Grand Prix team, featured in the movie, as part of My Team. This team includes characters Sonny Hayes (played by Pitt) and Joshua Pearce (played by Damson Idris), who are fully integrated into the game’s driver line-up.
Additionally, the game introduces a scenario mode featuring challenges that blend in-game objectives with clips from the film. Currently, only a prologue challenge is available to avoid revealing major plot points. More scenarios will be released as downloadable content following the film's theatrical release.
Refined gameplay and handling
After receiving mixed feedback for F1 24, particularly regarding its driving model, Codemasters appears to have addressed many concerns in F1 25. The handling system has been improved, offering a more balanced and responsive driving experience. These adjustments make the game more accessible to both returning players and newcomers who may have found previous versions challenging.
Content and features
F1 25 continues the series’ tradition of offering a wealth of modes and options. In addition to Braking Point and My Team, the game includes the standard Career Mode, Grand Prix Mode, Time Trials, and multiplayer functionality. New players and returning fans will find a highly customisable and content-rich racing experience.
Visuals and audio maintain the high standard expected of the series, with detailed circuits, weather dynamics, and realistic car models. The user interface has also been refined, making navigation through the game’s many features smoother and more intuitive.
For everyone with a passion for racing
F1 25 marks a notable step forward for the franchise. The return of Braking Point adds narrative depth, while the revamped My Team mode introduces a more comprehensive managerial component. The integration of the upcoming F1 film adds a unique crossover element, appealing to both motorsport fans and filmgoers.
With improved handling and a broad range of features, F1 25 stands out as one of the most complete Formula One games to date. Whether players are returning veterans, casual fans, or intrigued by the Hollywood connection, F1 25 offers something for everyone with a passion for racing.
The order includes three 500-tonne capacity cranes for handling liquid steel ladles, two 80-tonne scrap cranes for feeding the EAF via a conveyor system, and two 35-tonne cranes for electrode maintenance.
TATA STEEL UK has awarded a contract to JASO Industrial Cranes to supply seven process cranes for its £1.25 billion investment in sustainable steelmaking at Port Talbot.
The new cranes will support the operation of the plant’s Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) facility, which is expected to cut carbon emissions by 90 per cent when operational in 2028.
The order includes three 500-tonne capacity cranes for handling liquid steel ladles, two 80-tonne scrap cranes for feeding the EAF via a conveyor system, and two 35-tonne cranes for electrode maintenance.
Stuart Lloyd, project manager for the Cranes Project, said: “We’re excited to strengthen our longstanding partnership with JASO on this crucial part of our £1.25 billion transformation.”
Raúl Fernández, Marketing & Sales Director at JASO, said: “This order marks both the largest and most impactful project in our company’s history.”
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IndiGo operates over 2,200 daily flights across 130-plus destinations with a fleet of more than 400 aircraft
INDIGO will start operating direct flights from Mumbai to Manchester and Amsterdam with leased Boeing 787-9 aircraft in July, the airline said, adding that services to the UK city will also mark the airline’s long-haul debut.
The airline, which has been expanding both its fleet and international network, will begin the Mumbai–Manchester service on July 1, followed by Mumbai–Amsterdam on July 2, according to releases issued last Wednesday (21).
Both services will be operated three times a week and complimentary hot meals will be offered to the passengers on these routes.
The airline’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, said its long-haul foray marks a pivotal moment in its global expansion journey.
“We are very proud as well as excited to open the sale of our first long-haul service connecting Mumbai with Manchester, a very special route in many ways,” he added.
Recently, IndiGo signed agreements with Norse Atlantic Airways to damp-lease six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
“These aircraft will support IndiGo’s debut into the European market, starting with Manchester and Amsterdam, while the airline awaits the delivery of its A321XLR from this year and A350-900 aircraft from 2027 onwards,” IndiGo said.
With a fleet of over 400 planes, IndiGo currently operates more than 2,200 daily flights connecting more than 90 domestic and 40 international destinations.
InterGlobe Aviation, IndiGo’s parent company, last Wednesday posted its highest-ever fourth quarter profit after tax of `30.675 billion (£267m), mainly helped by strong air travel demand.
The company’s profit after tax in the three months ended March 2025 jumped 62 per cent from `18.948bn (£164m) from the previous year. In the fourth quarter of the 2024- 25 fiscal, IndiGo’s capacity increased 21 per cent to 42.1 billion, while the number of passengers carried rose 19.6 per cent to 31.9 million, according to a release. The airline, which currently has a little over 64 per cent domestic market share, carried 118 million passengers in 2024-2025.
While discussing the financial results, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers said the airline is fully compliant with all regulatory frameworks and regulations for operating flights with planes leased from Turkish Airlines and that it is for the government to decide on the renewal of the leases.
The comments came against the backdrop of the Indian aviation watchdog, BCAS, on May 15, revoking the security clearance for Turkish company Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd in the “interest of national security”, days after Turkiye backed Pakistan over the recent conflict.
IndiGo is operating direct flights to Istanbul with two leased Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines having over 500 seats each. The current leases for the two Turkish Airlines planes are ending this month.
It also offers codeshare seats to more than 40 points in Europe and the US through its long-standing codeshare partnership with the Turkish carrier.
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The repeated failures come at a crucial time for SpaceX
Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX has suffered its third consecutive rocket launch failure after its Starship spacecraft lost control shortly after lift-off and crashed into the Indian Ocean.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night during an attempted mission to deploy satellites into orbit. Shortly after launch, the spacecraft experienced issues when the release door failed to open properly. This resulted in the rocket spinning out of control, ultimately leading to its destruction over the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX confirmed that the spacecraft experienced a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” – a term the company uses for mid-air break-ups. “Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” the company said in a statement published online.
Despite the failure, Musk described the attempt as a “big improvement” on previous test flights, which ended with wreckage scattered over the Atlantic Ocean. He also announced plans to accelerate the testing schedule, with the next three launches expected to occur every three to four weeks.
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This particular flight marked the first time a recycled booster was used as part of the rocket’s construction. Although SpaceX successfully demonstrated booster-catching technology last year, there were no plans to retrieve the booster during this flight. Instead, it disintegrated over the Gulf of Mexico.
Earlier this year, two previous Starship launches also ended in failure shortly after take-off, with both rockets crashing into the ocean before clearing the Caribbean. No injuries or major damage were reported, though the incidents did cause some disruption to air traffic.
In preparation for the latest attempt, the Federal Aviation Administration had approved the launch while expanding the safety hazard zone and scheduling the lift-off outside peak air travel hours. SpaceX also introduced upgrades to the spacecraft, including modified thermal tiles and new catch fittings designed for future recovery tests.
Although this flight was intended to end in the Indian Ocean, the modifications were part of long-term plans to return spacecraft to the launch site eventually.
The repeated failures come at a crucial time for SpaceX, which is under pressure to demonstrate progress with its Starship programme. Nasa is relying on the system for future lunar missions, including an uncrewed flyby of the moon next year, followed by a planned lunar landing with astronauts in 2027.
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The Canary Wharf business district including global financial institutions in London. (Photo: Getty Images)
THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF) on Tuesday raised its UK growth forecast for 2025 to 1.2 per cent from 1.1 per cent estimated last month, citing strong business investment in the first quarter of this year.
The IMF said growth would be supported by “very strong” performance in the first three months of the year, with better-than-expected business investment.
The IMF also warned that global trade tensions would reduce UK growth by 0.3 per cent for the rest of this year. “Persistent uncertainty, slower activity in UK trading partners, and the direct impact of remaining US tariffs on the UK” would weigh on growth, the IMF said.
The Fund kept its estimate for UK growth in 2026 at 1.4 per cent.
The Labour government welcomed the updated forecast. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said three new trade agreements — with the US, EU and India — would help with “protecting jobs, boosting investment and cutting prices.”
The UK and the US reached a deal this month to reduce tariffs on British cars and remove tariffs on steel and aluminium. In exchange, Britain will allow more US beef and other farm products into its markets. However, a 10-per cent levy on the UK, imposed as part of Donald Trump’s tariffs on key trading partners, remains in place.
The IMF said the three trade deals were “just first steps.” IMF mission chief to the UK Luc Eyraud said at a press briefing: “We see them as very important at the sectoral level, but not necessarily impacting massively or significantly our forecast.”
The IMF said “persistently weak productivity remains the UK's primary obstacle to lifting growth and living standards.”
UK gross domestic product grew by 0.7 per cent in the January-to-March period, according to official data.
The Bank of England has also increased its growth forecast for this year but reduced its estimate for 2026. It cited heightened economic uncertainty due to Trump’s tariffs.
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