Mumbai-born British-Indian entrepreneur Sanjeev Mehta, who is the chairman of East India Company (EIC), on Friday clarified that the company’s brand, holding entity and key intellectual property are completely safe. The company is undergoing a strategic restructuring process to drive “long-term stability and strong growth”.
Mehta said that East India Company is fully active. The brand’s owning company and holding units are protected. All core brand assets and intellectual property are protected. Some recent media reports spread rumors of the company’s closure, which surprised me.
Background and revival
The original East India Company was dissolved in 1874. In 2005, Sanjeev Mehta purchased the rights to this historic name and brand. In 2010 he revived it as a luxury lifestyle brand, with products such as high-end teas, chocolates, spices, jewelery and homewares. Mehta saw this as a positive change – an Indian connecting the symbols of colonialism with compassion and positivity.
Challenges and reasons for restructuring
The Covid-19 pandemic badly affected the luxury retail sector. The company had to make a strategic shift away from the UK and towards higher growth markets (such as India). Some UK operating units were liquidated or disbanded. The short-term loan taken out for the flagship store on London’s Bond Street could not be refinanced with equity funding in time. A ‘Creditors Voluntary Liquidation’ was recorded in the UK’s Companies House register in September 2025, leading to reports of closure.
Mehta stressed that the old EIC was nationalized but the brand survived. The new EIC will carry forward the positive legacy of the historic company and leave the negative behind. The circumstances remained challenging, but the ship will keep moving forward.
future plan
Now a long-term strategic equity investment is being made by a new investor. The former shareholders will remain on the board and assist in the transition. The restructuring process is expected to be completed by the end of June 2026, allowing for robust operations to be restored ahead of the Christmas trading season. Mehta indicated that he would be stepping back from day-to-day operations and a younger team would be taking charge of the brand’s various businesses.
Mehta reiterated that the company is committed to disciplined growth, strong governance and maintaining global brand identity. This clarification comes at a time when questions were being raised about the status of the brand following the recent liquidation news. This new chapter of the East India Company shows a strong will to move forward despite challenges.
Latest Business News