Business
Octopus Energy to spin off $8.65bn tech arm Kraken
Archie MitchellBusiness reporter
Getty ImagesOctopus Energy is set to spin off its Kraken Technologies arm as a standalone company after a deal to sell a stake in the platform valued it at $8.65bn (£6.4bn).
The energy giant, Britain’s biggest gas and electricity supplier, has sold a $1bn stake in the AI-based division to a group of investors led by New York-based D1 Capital Partners.
The move paves the way for Kraken to be demerged from Octopus, and for a potential stock market flotation for the business in the future.
Octopus founder and chief executive Greg Jackson told the BBC there was “every chance” Kraken would list its shares “in the medium term”, with the location of the flotation “between London and the US”.
Kraken uses AI to automate customer service and billing for energy companies and can manage when customers use energy, rewarding them for reducing consumption at peak times.
It was initially built for use by Octopus but has since picked up a raft of other utilities clients, including EDF, E.On Next, TalkTalk and National Grid US. It now serves 70 million household and business accounts around the world.
The majority of the $1bn investment will go to Octopus to fund its expansion, with Kraken receiving the rest. Mr Jackson said Kraken will be operating completely independently of Octopus “within a few months”.
Other investors in the business included Fidelity International and a unit of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, with Octopus maintaining a 13.7% stake in Kraken.
Kraken chief executive Amir Orad said the spinoff would give it the “focus and freedom” to grow, with the company having previously struggled to do business with Octopus’s rivals.
Mr Jackson said that for a large tech firm such as Kraken, the location for its share listing would be either London or the US.
“One thing about Kraken is we’ve got this global investor base… and so really the stock exchanges have got to kind of show why they are the right one for business.”
A London listing for Kraken’s shares would reverse a trend of firms snubbing the UK in favour of floating in the US.
Mr Jackson said Octopus had created 12,000 jobs in the UK, with 1,500 of these attributed to Kraken.
He said the company would keep its headquarters in the UK, and that “if London can be the right place to list, I would love that”.
“But it’s down to be where you’re going to get the most investor support and the most support from the stock exchange.”
The demerger comes amid the continued growth of Octopus Energy, which overtook British Gas to become the UK’s largest energy supplier earlier this year, serving 7.7 million households.
But it confirmed this year it was one of three retail energy firms that had not yet met regulator Ofgem’s financial resilience targets.
Octopus said the cash injection would “almost double Octopus Energy Group’s already strong balance sheet”.
The deal was announced as Octopus published its results for the year to April, revealing it made a £260m loss before tax, compared with a £78m pre-tax profit a year earlier.
That came despite overall sales rising by a tenth to £13.7bn. Octopus took a hit from lower energy demand due to warmer weather and the ending of energy crisis allowance payments in 2024.
It said warmer weather hit profits by around £103m, blaming the UK’s hottest spring on record since 1885, which saw gas usage slump by 11% in March and 25% in April.
Business
How To Afford A Rs 2 Crore Flat In Bengaluru? Find Out The EMIs, Salary And Support You Need
Last Updated:
According to netizens, purchasing a Rs 2 crore house is not just about having a high salary it includes a double income, financial support from family, EMIs and much more
While the EMI burden is substantial, many believe homeownership offers long-term security—a value deeply rooted in Indian culture.
Owning a home in Bengaluru is no longer just about finding the right neighbourhood or amenities, it’s become a financial puzzle for many. With premium apartments now priced between Rs 1.5–2 crore, homebuyers are weighing salaries, EMIs, family support, and timing more carefully than ever. A recent discussion on Reddit provided insights into how residents are navigating the challenges of buying high-value homes in the city.
According to netizens, purchasing a Rs 2 crore house is not just about having a high salary. Many highlighted the importance of multiple factors, including a double income, financial support from family, careful management of EMIs, timing the market, and taking calculated financial risks. One user noted, “Don’t be fooled by marketing rhetoric. Buying a house within your capacity is very important for peace of mind.”
Several users shared personal experiences to illustrate these points. One Redditor recounted buying a 3BHK in Dommasandra two years ago for Rs 78 lakh and expressed surprise at how buyers are affording properties worth Rs 1.5–2 crore with a monthly income of Rs 4 lakh. Another explained that despite earning Rs 3 lakh per month in 2023, managing EMIs for a Rs 90 lakh property was challenging, saying, “Thinking about 20 years of EMI is scary.” However, many also argued that buying a home, even with a long-term loan, is better than paying rent for decades.
Long-term EMIs and job security remain key concerns. Several Redditors emphasized that private-sector employees may struggle with the unpredictability of income, making EMI management a source of stress. Pooling family savings and choosing the right purchase time were frequently cited strategies. One couple, both earning Rs 15 lakh CTC per annum, combined their savings with parental support to buy a home worth Rs 1.1 crore. Another buyer described purchasing a flat in 2018 for Rs 1.05 crore and paying off Rs 75 lakh over seven years through salary increments, bonuses, and low-interest periods during the pandemic.
Double-income households, according to Reddit users, are better positioned to stretch their budgets. While the EMI burden is substantial, many believe homeownership offers long-term security, a value deeply rooted in Indian culture. One user summed it up, “If you’re planning to live for 20 years, debt is inevitable, but it provides stability and ownership in the long run.”
The conversation highlights that while buying a Rs 2 crore property in Bengaluru is challenging, it is achievable with strategic financial planning, support from family, and careful timing. For many, these combined efforts make the dream of owning a home in the city a reality.
December 30, 2025, 18:49 IST
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Business
Ocado plans global retail tech sales push after exclusivity deals end
Ocado has revealed plans for a renewed push to sell its technology worldwide after exclusivity deals with most of its global retail customers have come to an end.
The London-listed group, which sells automation technology allowing retailers to pick and dispatch online food orders from giant robotic warehouses, said in July it was set to roll off mutual exclusivity contracts by the end of the year in most of the markets where its tech is live, including in the US with American retail giant Kroger.
It said this “enables Ocado to bring its proven and much evolved technology offering back to market”, with aims to kick off commercial activity to sell the tech to new retail partners in a number of the world’s biggest grocery markets.
Tim Steiner, chief executive of Ocado Group, said: “As we continue to support all of our partners to improve and grow their online businesses, we will also now bring the full range of Ocado’s AI-powered and robotic solutions back to multiple markets.
“In the five years since our first international customer fulfilment centres went live, we have substantially evolved our market-leading solutions and broadened our offering to meet retailers wherever they are on their online journey.
“As we enter 2026, Ocado is well positioned to help more retailers capture market share in the world’s fastest-growing grocery channel.”
Shares in Ocado fell 2% in morning trading on Tuesday.
The group – which also runs a UK online grocery firm as a joint venture with Marks & Spencer – was dealt a blow recently after Kroger scrapped plans for a new automated warehouse powered by Ocado and shut three existing sites.
Ocado will receive 350 million US dollars (£259 million) in compensation from Kroger for the move to scale back its warehouses.
Recent half-year figures showed Ocado rebounded to a pre-tax profit of £611.8 million for the six months to June 1 from a £153.3 million loss a year earlier, as it benefited from a revaluation of its stake in the Ocado Retail business.
Business
Indian Equities To Be On Firmer Footing In 2026, With Corporate Earnings Likely To Improve
New Delhi: Indian equity markets are expected to be on “firmer footing” in 2026, with domestic demand strongly supported by “macro front, lower inflation, healthy post-monsoon harvests, and the wealth effect of gold,” a report said on Tuesday.
The report from Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Limited said corporate earnings should improve on government tax measures and RBI monetary easing, pointing to a broad‑based cyclical recovery.
The asset management firm forecasted sectoral leadership to be driven by domestic cyclicals and consumption, while exports could gain momentum as tariff-related uncertainties ease and the rupee stabilises.
CY25 was marked by heightened volatility from shifting trade tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and persistent foreign institutional investor outflows, yet markets showed resilience underpinned by strong domestic fundamentals and a shift in investor dynamics, the report said.
Large‑cap stocks provided relative stability while mid‑caps returned around 5 per cent. In comparison, small‑caps fell approximately 8 per cent, reflecting a flight to quality as investors favoured balance sheet strength and earnings visibility.
Sectoral leadership rotated every two to three months after the September 2024 correction, with the auto sector (21.7 per cent) and consumption taking turns at the forefront, aided by tax cuts, duty cuts, and festive demand.
Export sectors lagged due to tariff-related uncertainties, despite rupee depreciation and tariff uncertainties weighing down on IT services, which declined 13.7 per cent.
The Nifty 50 delivered around 9 per cent in 2025, while volatility was central to sentiment as India VIX crossed the 20‑mark six times between January and May. It peaked at 22.79 in April, before averaging about 13.5 in the second half, the report noted.
Another recent report by Standard Chartered showed that reflation in the Indian economy, a possible revival in corporate earnings, and the return of foreign portfolio investors are among the positive signs that Indian equities will push higher year-on-year through 2026.
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