IHC gets the ball rolling on Sammaan Capital acquisition: Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company (IHC) is set to acquire a 41.5% controlling stake in Mumbai-based housing lender Sammaan Capital in a USD 1 bn transaction, according to a press release. The move builds on an initial agreement made toward the end of last year.

The details: The investment will be routed through Judan Financial, IHC’s newly formed Abu Dhabi-based financial arm that aims to consolidate global investments across banking and fintech sectors. Post-completion, IHC will gain board control and will be classified as a promoter of the company. The agreement is being executed in tranches, with 26.9% already acquired and the rest to follow via warrants over 18 months. A mandatory open offer, which could raise the total stake to 63.3% if it sees full uptake, is expected, in line with Indian regulations.

Why it matters: Sammaan gives IHC immediate access to over 220 branches and a significant retail lending engine in one of the world’s fastest-growing credit markets. The transaction strengthens the firm’s capital base while positioning IHC to tap India’s credit market, where NBFCs play a crucial role in financial inclusion and housing finance.

Growth strategy: Following the investment, Sammaan Capital will transition from a pureplay mortgage financier to a diversified lender across “retail products including secured/unsecured MSME, personal loans, business loans, gold loans.” The lender aims to expand its branch network to 1.5k by FY 2029 from the current 200, targeting a 50 mn customer base across India.

IN CONTEXT- IHC plans to deploy USD 110 bn in India over the next five years across data centers, renewables, nuclear power, and infrastructure. The Emirati company has previously invested in Adani Group and Haldiram Snacks Foods.

Nxtra raises USD 1 bn

NxtraData, the data center arm of Indian telco major Bharti Airtel, raised USD 1 bn in a round led by Alpha Wave Global alongside Carlyle Group, Anchorage Capital, and the parent firm, as per an exchange filing (pdf). The transaction values the data center operator at some USD 3.1 bn, with Airtel retaining majority control. Nxtra will deploy the capital to expand capacity and services, positioning itself for rising AI-driven data demand.

Who’s involved? Alpha Wave Global is a majority-owned subsidiary of Judan Financial, the USD 237 bn financial powerhouse chaired by Abu Dhabi’s Deputy Ruler Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Alpha Wave led contributions with USD 435 mn, followed by Airtel (USD 290 mn), and US-based private equity firms Carlyle (USD 240 mn) and Anchorage Capital (USD 35 mn).

Why it matters: Data centers are emerging as the primary entry point for AI investments in India as the country lacks cutting-edge chipmaking capabilities. Global allocators like Carlyle and Alpha Wave are following the lead of big tech firms Google, Microsoft, and Amazon, which have pledged over USD 50 bn in cloud and AI infrastructure. This comes as the race for AI dominance among conglomerates like Reliance Industries and Adani Group continues to intensify.

USD 751 mn electronics manufacturing incentives

The Indian government approved 29 investment proposals totaling INR 71 bn (USD 751 mn) as part of its electronic components manufacturing incentive scheme, as per a press release from the Electronics and IT Ministry. The outlay targets mobile devices, telecom equipment, consumer electronics, and automotive components.

Why it matters:A new incentive program launching this April will replace India’s old volume-based subsidies with a model that rewards export-linked domestic production of electronics components, positioning India as an alternative manufacturing hub for global OEMs.

India is seeking to become a net exporter of electronics rather than a domestic market assembler, targeting a manufacturing output of USD 500 bn by 2031, up from the USD 125 bn posted in FY 2025.

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