In June 2013, redbus.in, a bus ticketing website, was acquired by the Ibibo Group, a subsidiary of South Africa based internet and media firm Naspers Ltd, for USD 135 million. Soon after signing the deal, Phanindra Sama - CEO and co-founder of redBus, went for a holiday to London along with his parents. Sama remained incommunicado during the 10 day trip by not acquiring a local number and not accessing his emails. During Sama's absence, senior management team of Alok Goel and Satish Gidugu at redBus along with three mid-level managers submitted their resignation. Apart from employees of redBus, the Ibibo takeover team was also ‘foxed’ as desperate calls and emails to Sama elicited no response. This case examines the chaos created due to Sama's absence and helps in understanding the issues when a technology start up is acquired.
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Case Study|
August 10 2016
The redBus in Saga: Managing the Start-up Acquisition Phase
Amarpreet Singh Ghura;
Amarpreet Singh Ghura
Research Associate
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Abhishek
Abhishek
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.
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This case has been written on the basis of data available in public domain. The description of events is based on authors’ interpretation of the events as they have been reported in different media outlets.
Received:
June 19 2020
Online ISSN: 1111-111X
Print ISSN: 1111-111X
© 2016 by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2016
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Licensed re-use rights only. Cases of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, are prepared as a basis for class discussion. They are not designed to present illustrations of either correct or incorrect handling of administrative problems.
Teaching Notes 1–8.
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Received:
June 19 2020
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The redBus in Saga: Managing the Start-up Acquisition Phase
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Citation
Ghura AS, Abhishek (2016;), "The redBus in Saga: Managing the Start-up Acquisition Phase". Teaching Notes, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print.
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