👜 Prada x Versace = Fashion’s Boldest Deal Yet

Author

Masala Chai
April 11, 2025

☀️ Good Morning, it’s Friday!

FriYAY has arrived with all the flair of a Milan runway — and today’s Masala Chai is bursting with drama, deals, and digital dazzle. From luxury fashion power moves to AI-powered predictions and IPOs that could shake up the startup scene, this edition has everything to keep you in the loop and in the know.

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Let’s stir it up! ☕️

🕵️‍♂️ Chai Shots

  • 🏏 Virat Kohli exits Puma, builds one8: After an eight-year, ₹110 crore run, Kohli has moved on from Puma — reportedly turning down ₹300 crore to renew. Instead, he’s going all-in on one8 with Agilitas, aiming to take the brand global.

  • 👜 Prada x Versace! Italian fashion just got its Avengers moment as Prada scoops up Versace for $1.38B. It’s a bold move to challenge French luxury titans and revitalize Versace's glam edge. More in The Big Brew 🫖

  • 💹 BlackRock makes a bold bet on Adani: The world’s biggest asset manager scooped up one-third of a $750M bond issue from the Adani Group. Despite legal clouds, BlackRock is making its first big move into India’s private infra space.

  • 🇮🇳 India gets 90-day tariff break: The US has suspended additional tariffs on Indian goods until July 9, offering breathing room for trade talks. Products like shrimp, steel, and pharma could benefit, and exporters see this as a window to fast-track a bilateral trade agreement.

📈 Market Masala

  • 🙏 Indian markets were closed for Mahavir Jayanti: Domestic markets were closed on Thursday for the holiday. Let’s see what Friday brings as global volatility remains high.

  • 💸 Repo rate cut puts pressure on bank profits: With the RBI lowering the repo rate to 6%, most loans linked to external benchmarks are getting cheaper fast. But deposit rates aren’t dropping as quickly, squeezing banks’ profit margins — especially private ones that have more floating-rate loans.

  • 🏦 Lenders ease EMIs, but not for all: Banks like BoB, Indian Bank, and PNB have cut their repo-linked rates by 25 basis points. New borrowers get instant relief, but older customers will need to wait for their reset cycles to kick in.

  • 📈 Paytm sees surge in institutional interest: Domestic mutual funds now hold 13.1% of Paytm, up 1.9%. Retail investors trimmed positions, but big players like Nippon and Motilal Oswal are leaning in.

  • 📱 WhatsApp upgrades its vibe: The messaging app just dropped a bundle of new features. Group chats now show who’s online, you can RSVP to events even in personal chats, and iPhone users can scan documents on the fly. Channels now support QR codes, video posts, and voice summaries — it's giving serious Discord-meets-Google vibes.

🌍 Global Masala

  • 📉 Trump's tariff twist tanks US stocks: US indices got slammed again after it was revealed China will face a staggering 145% tariff rate. Nasdaq sank 4.3%, Dow dropped 1,014 points, and the rollercoaster continues.

  • 🚗 Tesla volatility spikes: After Wednesday’s 23% surge, Tesla stock tumbled 7.3% as the market digested Trump’s tariffs and Musk’s public spats. UBS says Tesla’s valuation may face more turbulence.

  • 💸 European stocks bounce back: The Stoxx 600 had its best day in three years (+3.7%) after Trump hit the brakes (temporarily) on most tariff increases. Except China, of course.

  • ⚡ Tesla enters Saudi Arabia: Elon Musk's EV empire opened shop in Riyadh, marking its official Saudi debut. Locals are hyped, but infrastructure (and the heat) will test Tesla’s grit. Models 3, Y, and Cybertruck are on display.

🫖 The Big Brew: Prada Buys Versace — But Is It a Bargain or a Bailout?

👠 Fashion just had its mic-drop moment: Prada is snapping up Versace for €1.25B ($1.38B), marking one of the boldest bets in Italian luxury.

Here’s the tea:

  • 👜 Capri’s retreat: Capri Holdings (formerly Michael Kors) bought Versace for $2.1B in 2018. Now they’re selling at a steep discount.

  • 📉 Investor reaction: Capri’s stock sank 11% post-deal. Investors expected more bang for their baroque buck.

  • 🏛️ Prada’s play: This gives Prada a shiny new weapon against French giants like LVMH. Versace’s loud prints balance Prada’s sleek minimalism.

  • 👋 Donatella steps aside: Donatella Versace, the face of the brand since Gianni’s passing, had already exited her creative role last month.

  • 📊 What’s next for Capri? The deal frees them to focus on fixing Michael Kors, which still brings in 70% of their revenue.

💬 What does this mean? Capri’s dream of building an American luxury empire is officially on pause. Meanwhile, Prada’s hoping a little glam and a lot of Milanese magic can reboot Versace’s global appeal.

🏠 Startup Scoop

☕ Chai Break Trivia

🧠 Did you know? Investor Titan Capital turned ₹57 lakh into a nearly 200x return through its early bet on Urban Company. The VC cashed out in secondary sales before the startup’s IPO push — talk about timing!

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Our Reaction..

🔮 What’s Brewing Next?

  • 💼 Earnings season kicks off with banking biggies

  • 📉 Global markets eye more tariff fallout

That’s a wrap for this Friday, folks! May your chai stay hot, your stocks stay steady, and your weekend start early. Catch you tomorrow with more stories, more sass, and a whole lot of masala ☕️

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