India's Religare says US businessman makes competing offer for stake
India's Religare Enterprises said a U.S. businessman has made a proposal to acquire a 26% stake in it, the latest twist in the battle for control of the financial services company which has rejected another bid as being priced too low. The Indian billionaire Burman family, which has founded and controls consumer goods conglomerate Dabur India, raised its stake in Religare to nearly 25% in September 2023, triggering a so-called open offer to buy more shares. Through the open offer process, which starts on Jan. 27, the Burmans plan to buy around 26% more of Religare to bolster their presence in India's rapidly growing financial services sector, but Religare's independent directors flagged this week the offer price of 235 rupees per share was too low.