Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of the renowned brokerage firm Zerodha, has made waves in the investment world with his diverse portfolio. Recently, the 37-year-old entrepreneur unveiled another substantial investment, revealing that he has poured approximately Rs 400 crore into Radico Khaitan, a prominent liquor company known for its popular brands like Magic Moments vodka and 8PM whiskey.
Kamath’s investment, which equates to a 1.6-1.7% stake in the company, was disclosed during his insightful podcast, titled ‘WTF, Alcohol is a $70B Business in India?’. The podcast episode, available on his YouTube channel boasting a substantial 840K subscribers, delves into the intriguing world of the Indian alcoholic beverage market.
Speaking candidly about his investment, Kamath shared, “It has done very well for us. We have never spoken about it publicly – I think it (the stake) is 1.6-1.7%.” He emphasized that the stake, valued at around Rs 400 crore, was acquired through open market transactions.
Further shedding light on his investment strategy, Kamath stated, “We have Rs 400 crore of Abhishek’s stock – Radico, which is a great investment for me, so don’t blame me for being a bit nicer to him.” Abhishek Khaitan, the Managing Director of Radico Khaitan, was a guest on the podcast alongside other prominent figures in the beverage industry, including Minakshi Singh, co-founder of SideCar, Shuchir Suri, co-founder of Gin Explorer’s Club, and Suraj Shenai, founder of Goa Brewing Co.
Meanwhile, Radico Khaitan, led by Lalit Khaitan as Chairman and Managing Director, continues to thrive in the market. As of July 5th, the company boasts a substantial market capitalization of Rs 22949 crore, reflecting its strong position in the Indian alcoholic beverages sector.
