Global Investing Platform Stockal Acquires Bengaluru-Based Startup Acru, Amount Undisclosed

Stockal, a worldwide B2B2C investing platform, has paid an undisclosed price for Acru, a Bengaluru-based startup focused on investment infrastructure for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs).

Stockal, located in New York, is regulated by both the SEC and the SEBI.

The strategic move completes Stockal’s cross-border investment ecosystem, allowing Indian and international investors to invest effortlessly in each other’s marketplaces.

According to the business statement, the transaction will be completed through an equity stock swap.

“We’re excited to welcome Acru to the Stockal ecosystem. This acquisition allows us to provide a truly holistic infrastructure for cross-border investing,” stated Sitashwa Srivastava, Stockal’s Co-Founder and CEO.

“We can extend the Acru infrastructure to global banks, brokerages, wealth managers, and fintechs, simplifying the process for NRIs and PIOs investing in India’s dynamic market. This allows us to reach a far bigger audience, including the 30 million NRIs worldwide.”

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With this acquisition, Stockal will offer a comprehensive solution for cross-border investment. Indian investors have easy access to more than 6,000 worldwide securities, while non-resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas investors can invest in India’s developing markets.

Acru’s specialized infrastructure supports Stockal’s capabilities to accelerate global market access, focusing on markets where investment in India is fast increasing.

Stockal claims to have completed more than Rs 15,000 crore in transactions thus far. The acquisition is projected to drive significant growth, bringing in an additional Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 crore of new investment in India over the following year.

Stockal is actively extending its global reach, and the Acru acquisition is expected to generate around $1 million in sales this year.

Manjunath Reddy, Founder and CEO of Acru Finserv, stated, “At Acru, we have developed robust infrastructure that facilitates investments in Indian mutual funds, digital gold, and digital silver. We are also introducing AIF, PMS, and listed equities as new asset classes to global investors. With Stockal’s support, network, and knowledge, we are well-positioned to create a more seamless investing experience and accelerate our aim of delivering tailored financial solutions to the Indian diaspora.”

The company claims to operate in significant worldwide markets such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Its alliances include the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, with plans to launch in growing economies like as Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Ghana, and Nigeria by the end of the year.

Stockal’s expansion plan is designed to capitalize on the enormous possibility in these areas, which collectively represent hundreds of thousands of potential investors.

Stockal reported that it has already opened over 150,000 investment accounts and completed approximately $2 billion in transactions. The corporation expects to reach $3 billion by the end of fiscal year 2024-25.

According to the company’s announcement, the acquisition of Acru is expected to increase Stockal’s overall transaction volumes while also helping it grow its asset base to more than $5 billion by the end of FY 2025-26.

The integration of Acru’s infrastructure is projected to boost investment inflows from high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) and institutional investors, particularly from the Middle East, the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.