In a significant move to consolidate its presence in the health and wellness sector, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) announced on February 12, 2026, that it will acquire the remaining 49% stake in OZiva (Zywie Ventures Pvt Ltd) for ₹824 crore.
This transaction will make OZiva a wholly-owned subsidiary of HUL, exactly three years after the FMCG giant first acquired a majority 51% stake in the brand in early 2023.
The OZiva Buyout Breakdown
The acquisition is part of HUL’s broader “fewer, bigger bets” strategy, focusing on high-growth, science-led brands.
| Metric | Details (as of Feb 2026) |
| Stake Being Acquired | 49% (to reach 100% ownership) |
| Transaction Value | ₹824 crore (Cash consideration) |
| Expected Closure | By March 31, 2026 |
| 2025 Revenue | ~₹480 crore (Scaling from ₹258 cr in FY25) |
| Growth Rate | 130% CAGR over the last two years |
Strategic Rational: The “Unified India” Push
HUL CEO and MD Priya Nair highlighted that taking full ownership allows HUL to “double down” on the wellness segment by fully integrating OZiva into its R&D and distribution engine.
- Synergy Extraction: HUL aims to leverage its massive offline distribution network to take OZiva beyond digital marketplaces and into millions of traditional retail stores.
- Portfolio Realignment: Simultaneously, HUL announced it is divesting its 19.8% stake in Wellbeing Nutrition to USV Private Limited for ₹307 crore. This represents a massive gain on its initial ₹70 crore investment, allowing HUL to focus solely on OZiva as its primary flagship in the nutraceutical space.
- R&D Focus: Under a new “One India R&D” organization, Apple will integrate OZiva’s plant-based science with Unilever’s global nutritional expertise.
HUL Q3 FY26 Financial Context
The buyout announcement coincided with HUL’s December quarter results, which were characterized by significant one-time impacts:
- Reported Net Profit: Surged 121% to ₹6,603 crore, primarily due to a massive exceptional gain of ₹4,611 crore from the demerger of its Ice Cream business.
- Core Performance: Excluding exceptional items, PAT was down 15% (standalone) to ₹2,590 crore, reflecting persistent margin pressure and a 4% underlying volume growth.
- Revenue: Rose 4% to ₹15,614 crore (standalone).
What Happens to the Founders?
While HUL is taking full ownership, the transition follows a “pre-agreed valuation framework” set during the initial 2022 agreement. The founders, Aarti Gill and Mihir Gadani, have successfully scaled the brand to nearly ₹500 crore in revenue under HUL’s majority stewardship and are now facilitating the final handover to turn OZiva into a corporate-led global wellness brand.
