In a significant show of confidence following FirstCry’s Q3 results, ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund officially crossed the 5% shareholding threshold in the company’s parent, Brainbees Solutions Ltd, on February 16, 2026.
The asset management company (AMC) acquired an additional 2,00,210 equity shares (approximately 0.038% of the company) through the secondary market, taking its aggregate holding to 5.028%.
Transaction Breakdown
The acquisition pushes ICICI Pru into the bracket of substantial shareholders, requiring formal disclosure under SEBI’s Takeover Regulations.
| Metric | Before Acquisition (Feb 15) | Post Acquisition (Feb 16) |
| Total Shares Held | 2,60,47,687 | 2,62,47,897 |
| Stake Percentage | 4.990% | 5.028% |
| Transaction Size | — | 2,00,210 Shares (~₹4.6 Crore) |
| Nature of Holding | Investment Perspective | Investment Perspective (No Control) |
Context: Buying the “Post-Earnings” Dip
The stake hike occurred just as FirstCry’s stock hit a series of record lows following its February 13 earnings report.
- Widening Losses: While FirstCry reported an 11.6% jump in revenue to ₹2,424 crore, its Q3 net loss widened by 153% to ₹38 crore, largely due to expansion costs for its “RocketBees” quick-delivery service.
- Market Sentiment: The stock fell roughly 12% in the sessions following the earnings call, hitting a low of ₹220.25 on February 18.
- Mutual Fund Strategy: ICICI Prudential’s move signals a “buy on dips” strategy, joining other major domestic funds like SBI Mutual Fund (which holds over 14% across various schemes) in betting on the long-term recovery of India’s leading baby-care retailer.
Key Schemes with FirstCry Exposure
As of January 31, 2026, several ICICI Prudential schemes already held significant positions in the company:
- ICICI Pru India Opportunities Fund: 70.82 lakh shares (0.56% of the fund).
- ICICI Pru Innovation Fund: 41.98 lakh shares (1.53% of the fund).
- ICICI Pru Technology Fund: 33.02 lakh shares (0.59% of the fund).
