Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal is reportedly planning to transfer the intellectual property (IP) rights of the Ola brand from ANI Technologies—the parent entity of the ride-hailing platform Ola Cabs—to a holding company controlled by his family office, as part of a broader corporate restructuring initiative, according to sources familiar with the matter.
This strategic move is being considered as ANI Technologies explores an initial public offering (IPO) of its ride-hailing business and evaluates options to streamline its operations and unlock higher value across ventures. However, the proposed transfer has raised alarms among ANI Technologies’ investors, who fear being excluded from potential future gains associated with the Ola brand.
A spokesperson for Ola confirmed the ongoing internal developments, stating:
“Our group structure is being proactively realigned to unlock greater value and operational agility as the broader markets and industries evolve. This rejig will be undertaken thoughtfully and communicated at the right time,” the spokesperson told Moneycontrol.
Currently, ANI Technologies licenses the Ola brand to Ola Electric and receives royalties in return. The proposed IP transfer would shift this lucrative asset outside ANI Technologies, potentially depriving current shareholders of future earnings from brand licensing. The situation is particularly sensitive because investors in ANI do not have equity stakes in Aggarwal’s other ventures, including Ola Electric, his electric mobility company, or Krutrim, his artificial intelligence (AI) startup.
The development was first reported by The Economic Times.
If the brand rights are transferred to Aggarwal’s family office, it would grant him more freedom to deploy the Ola brand across multiple ventures and consolidate control. However, the specifics of the transfer, including whether it requires board or investor approval, remain unclear at this stage.
In December 2024, Aggarwal pledged 1.1 percent of ANI’s equity share capital—valued at nearly Rs 452 crore—to raise funds via debentures to support the expansion of Krutrim, underscoring his growing focus on AI and deep tech initiatives.
This restructuring plan emerges as ANI Technologies has begun preliminary discussions with investment banks, signaling a potential IPO for its core ride-hailing arm, Ola Cabs.
Founded in 2010, Ola has been a pioneering force in India’s mobility landscape, with backing from marquee investors including SoftBank and Tiger Global. The latest developments hint at a significant shift in the group’s strategic direction and could shape the future dynamics between Aggarwal’s various ventures and their respective stakeholders.