Pai in the Sky: Ranjan to own 40% of Aakash

Ranjan Pai, chairman of Manipal Education and Medical Group, is set to emerge as the largest shareholder in Byju’s-owned Aakash Institute, with a 40% stake, people aware of the matter said.

The Aakash board has approved the conversion into equity of the $300 million Pai invested during 2023, they added. This values the company — one of the remaining valuable assets for Byju Raveendran’s troubled edtech group — at around $700 million and renders it debt-free.