Sony is regrouping its strategies in India after the collapse of the proposed merger between its Indian arm and Zee Entertainment last month. The company's president, COO, and CFO, Hiroki Totoki, expressed Sony's continued interest in the Indian market during a recent earnings call, highlighting the nation's significant growth potential.

Following the formal termination of the merger agreement by Sony Pictures Entertainment on January 22, Totoki stated that Sony is actively seeking alternative opportunities to expand its presence in India. Despite the setback, Totoki emphasized India's attractiveness as a market for long-term investment and growth.

Regarding the investment commitments made as part of the failed merger, Totoki clarified that Sony's capital allocation and investment strategies remain unchanged for the time being, with no concrete plans in place.

The proposed merger between Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEEL) and Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) was initially approved by ZEEL's board of directors in September 2021. However, issues arose during the subsequent due diligence period, leading to prolonged discussions and eventual termination of the deal.

One of the key points of contention was the appointment of a chief executive officer for the merged entity. While the original agreement stipulated that Punit Goenka, ZEEL's managing director and CEO, would lead the merged company, disagreements emerged over this decision. Sony advocated for NP Singh, its India head, to take on the role, leading to further complications.

The situation escalated when regulatory concerns were raised regarding financial irregularities involving ZEEL's promoters. This, coupled with the disagreement over leadership, ultimately led to the breakdown of negotiations between the two companies.

In response to the failed merger, Sony initiated arbitration proceedings, claiming a termination fee of $90 million from ZEEL. Despite efforts to extend the merger cooperation agreement, Sony expressed disappointment that the closing conditions were not met within the specified timeframe.

ZEEL, however, refuted Sony's claims and denied breaching the terms of the merger agreement. The company has actively sought alternative solutions to address the situation, including filing a petition before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to compel Sony to implement the merger scheme.

The legal battle intensified when the Singapore International Arbitration Center (SIAC) rejected Sony's request to prevent ZEEL from approaching the NCLT. With the Mumbai bench of NCLT already serving Sony with a notice regarding the petition, the dispute remains unresolved.

Had the merger been successful, the combined entity would have boasted a vast portfolio of assets, including over 70 TV channels, two video streaming platforms (ZEE5 and Sony LIV), and two film studios (Zee Studios and Sony Pictures Films India), positioning itself as a dominant player in the Indian entertainment industry.

Sony Pictures Network India (SPNI), as an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, currently operates 26 channels in various languages, catering to a viewership of over 700 million. Additionally, its OTT platform, Sony LIV, attracts around 33 million viewers, showcasing a diverse range of content including live sports, movies, short films, and original programming.