Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital has taken a significant corporate stride by approving a scheme of amalgamation with its listed parent company, Dr Agarwal’s Health Care Limited (AHCL). This development marks a pivotal step toward consolidating operations within the group to realize operational efficiencies and enhanced shareholder value. Announced on August 27, 2025, the board's decision revolves around absorbing Dr Agarwal’s Eye Hospital Ltd (AEHL) into AHCL as a going concern, coupled with a preferential share issuance to AHCL in a strategic financial move.
Key Highlights and Strategic Context
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The scheme of amalgamation involves AEHL merging into AHCL through absorption.
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AHCL to issue and allot 23 equity shares for every 2 AEHL shares held by shareholders, excluding AHCL itself.
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AEHL board approved issuing 132,827 equity shares to AHCL at a steep price of ₹5,270 per share by way of a preferential allotment.
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Current stake of AHCL in AEHL stands at 71.90%, with the share issuance set to push it up to approximately 72.67%.
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The merger is subject to standard regulatory and shareholder approvals, including SEBI, stock exchanges, creditors, and the National Company Law Tribunal.
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AEHL’s 31st Annual General Meeting is scheduled for September 24, 2025, likely to discuss merger details further.
Merger Details and Rationale
The approved merger scheme is structured to simplify and strengthen the group’s business architecture. Under the swap ratio, holders of AEHL shares (other than AHCL) will receive 23 shares of AHCL for every 2 shares they currently hold in AEHL. This exchange ratio has been described by company leadership as fair and balanced, aiming to align stakeholder interests and unlock combined business potential.
Dr Adil Agarwal, CEO of AHCL, emphasized that the merger reflects a strategic step towards a streamlined group structure intended to drive significant value creation over the long term. The merger will simplify legal and regulatory frameworks, consolidate governance, and unify capital allocation, allowing the combined entity to be more agile and financially robust.
Financial and Market Impact
AHCL recently made its debut on the Dalal Street stock exchanges in early 2025 and currently holds a dominant majority stake in AEHL. Financial snapshots show AHCL reporting standalone turnover of ₹1,043.89 crore and net worth of ₹1,933.64 crore, whereas AEHL reported a turnover of ₹397.15 crore and net worth of ₹209.61 crore for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
Alongside the merger, AEHL’s preferential share issuance to AHCL, priced at ₹5,270, is a move to raise approximately ₹70 crore, enhancing AHCL’s control and financial consolidation within the group. Investors can expect the merger transaction to be accretive to earnings per share, promising better financial performance and shareholder returns post-completion.
Benefits of the Amalgamation
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Operational Efficiency: Combined operations reduce redundancies and drive more coordinated decision-making.
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Financial Strength: Unified balance sheets and capital allocation foster stronger growth opportunities.
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Simplified Corporate Structure: Streamlining governance and regulatory processes.
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Enhanced Shareholder Value: Increased scale and synergies boost long-term returns for investors.
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Strategic Positioning: Consolidation under AHCL provides a stronger platform to capture market opportunities in the eye care sector.
Next Steps and Timelines
The merger requires approval from multiple regulatory bodies and stakeholders. Following the approval of the scheme, the companies will proceed with formalities and requisite filings. The scheduled Annual General Meeting of AEHL on September 24, 2025, will be a key milestone where shareholders can expect detailed discussions and voting on the amalgamation proposal.
Overall, this merger aligns with Dr Agarwal’s group's vision to grow through focused expansion and operational excellence, promising a robust future trajectory for one of India’s largest eye care chains.
Source: Moneycontrol, ScanX Trade, Reuters
