RJ Corp acquires online health consultation startup iClinic

Ravi Jaipuria-controlled RJ Corp, one of the largest bottlers and distributors of Pepsi in India which is also a franchisee partner for other QSR chains, has acquired online healthcare startup iClinic Healthcare Pvt Ltd, for an undisclosed amount, The Economic Times reported citing company executives.

iClinic Healthcare runs an online platform under the iClinic brand providing medical consultation through video calls and other such digital medium.

The move expands the privately held group's healthcare business which currently comprises an offline diagnostics chain under the Diagno Labs brand.

Under the deal, Diagno Labs and iClinic Healthcare will merge and Sanjoy Mukerji, managing director of iClinic Healthcare will head the combined firm as the managing director.

Separate emails sent to Mukerji and RJ Corp to get further details on the acquisition did not elicit any response.

As per the media report, Mukerji will be a significant minority shareholder.

iClinic was founded by Mukerji, former chief commercial officer of Vodafone India and Britannia Industries' managing director Varun Berry. Mukerji has been a part of the Indian telecom industry for the past 11 years and has over 26 years of experience in process engineering, process design and customer service.

Berry has over 27 years of global experience in FMCG and foods and in running business including M&A and IPO in India. He has also worked in countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, UAE, Saudi, Egypt and Jordan.

(Edited by Joby Puthuparampil Johnson)