Hindustan Media Ventures bets ₹21.66 cr on UK-based AasaanWill
The company is allocating 4.6% of its market cap to a digital will-writing platform, even as it skips dividends and continues its post-OTTplay restructuring.
What's new
- Board approved a GBP 1.67 million investment in UK-based Assetvault Limited.
- The deal targets a 7% stake in the 'AasaanWill' digital platform.
- FY26 audited results show no dividend payout for shareholders.
Why this matters
Allocating nearly 5% of its market value to a niche, low-turnover foreign startup is a high-stakes pivot. It signals that management is prioritizing digital diversification over cash returns, a move that carries significant execution risk given the company's recent history of exiting non-core businesses like OTTplay.
What we're watching
- RBI approval timelines for the foreign exchange transaction.
- Whether AasaanWill can scale its ₹0.6 crore turnover using HMVL's media reach.
- Any further restructuring moves following the exit from OTTplay.
The full read
Hindustan Media Ventures is pivoting toward legal tech. The board approved an investment of up to GBP 1.67 million, or roughly ₹21.66 crore, to acquire a 7% stake in the UK-based digital will-writing platform AasaanWill. For a company with a market valuation of ₹468 crore, this is a material allocation of capital. It follows the recent exit from the OTTplay business, a move intended to curb operational losses. AasaanWill currently reports minimal turnover of ₹0.6 crore, meaning the success of this venture relies entirely on HMVL’s ability to funnel its existing media audience into the platform. Shareholders will receive no dividend for FY26. The company is trading its cash reserves for a stake in a foreign startup, betting that its media assets can manufacture growth where the platform has yet to find scale. The next test is whether the Reserve Bank of India clears the foreign exchange hurdles by the August 2026 deadline.
Questions answered
- What is the core business of Assetvault Limited?
- Assetvault operates 'AasaanWill', a digital platform based in the United Kingdom that provides will-writing and succession planning services.
- How significant is this investment relative to HMVL's size?
- The ₹21.66 crore investment represents approximately 4.6% of Hindustan Media Ventures' ₹468 crore market capitalization.
- When will the acquisition be completed?
- The company expects to complete the acquisition by August 2026, pending necessary regulatory approvals from the Reserve Bank of India.
- What is the status of shareholder dividends?
- The board has decided not to recommend any dividend for the 2025-26 fiscal year.