Category: Corporate

State Bank of India (SBI) posted a strong set of numbers for the first quarter of the financial year 2025–26 (Q1FY26), with standalone net profit rising 12% year-on-year (YoY) to ₹19,160 crore, surpassing market estimates. The lender attributed the growth to operating efficiency and controlled expenses, despite a marginal decline in margins.

The profit figure came in well above the consensus estimate of ₹17,095 crore and last year’s ₹17,035 crore. Interest income for the quarter grew 6% YoY to ₹1,17,996 crore from ₹1,11,526 crore, while interest expenses increased at a faster pace of 9% to ₹76,923 crore. Stock Market Reaction SBI shares opened higher on Monday, gaining more than 2% in early trade after the results were announced during market hours on Friday.

The stock opened at ₹807, up from the previous close of ₹804.55, and touched an intraday high of ₹822.85 in morning deals. However, weak overall market sentiment led to some profit booking, with the stock closing over 1% lower on the NSE by the end of the day. Market participants noted that the early rally reflected investor optimism over the better-than-expected earnings, before broader market weakness weighed on sentiment.

Operational Performance

According to brokerage Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL), the net profit exceeded its estimates by 13%, aided by strong treasury gains and well-managed operating costs.

However, the bank’s net interest income (NII) declined 4% sequentially, while the net interest margin (NIM) slipped 10 basis points quarter-on-quarter and 32 basis points YoY to 2.9%. SBI’s management expects domestic NIMs to remain above 3% for FY26, with a recovery anticipated from the third quarter. Credit growth stood at 12% YoY, with the unsecured Xpress Credit book remaining flat. A strong credit pipeline, coupled with a comfortable domestic credit-deposit ratio, is expected to support incremental lending in the coming quarters. MOFSL has raised its earnings estimates by 3% for FY26 and 3.5% for FY27, reiterating a buy rating with a target price of ₹925.

Brokerage Reactions
 

Other brokerages shared similar optimism. Nuvama maintained a buy rating with a target price of ₹950, citing the bank’s strong fundamentals, expectations of improved liquidity, moderation in deposit costs, and benefits from recent capital raising. JM Financial also retained its buy call with the same target, highlighting anticipated improvement in liquidity conditions and deposit cost pressures easing in the second half of the year. Nirmal Bang Institutional Equities expressed confidence in SBI’s long-term prospects, pointing to its leadership in both corporate and retail segments, which enables selective, high-quality credit growth. The brokerage emphasised the bank’s ample liquidity position, which supports stable margins, and its “pristine” asset quality, with a standard provision buffer of 0.7% providing additional comfort against potential credit shocks. “Our target multiple is set at a 6% discount to the five-year average multiple of 1.38x,” Nirmal Bang stated, adding, “We remain positive on SBI for the long term given its strong franchise, ability to choose the best quality credit, and robust balance sheet.”

Outlook

Analysts broadly expect SBI to sustain its growth momentum through FY26, supported by steady loan demand, healthy asset quality, and operational efficiency gains. While the short-term margin compression is a concern, most brokerages believe the impact will be offset by easing funding costs in the second half of the year. The bank’s recent capital raising is also seen as a strategic positive, strengthening its balance sheet and providing headroom for growth across priority segments. In the near term, SBI’s performance will likely hinge on its ability to manage deposit costs, maintain asset quality in a higher interest rate environment, and capitalise on corporate lending opportunities. The third quarter is expected to mark a turning point for margins, with liquidity improvements and seasonal credit demand offering tailwinds.

Despite Monday’s intraday volatility, market experts note that the stock remains a core holding for long-term investors seeking exposure to India’s banking sector. With consensus target prices in the ₹925–₹950 range, the Street is betting on SBI’s scale, resilience, and execution capabilities to deliver consistent returns in the coming quarters.

Deloitte has implemented a policy linking office attendance to performance reviews of its US employees, potentially affecting bonuses. This change requires staff of its US tax division to collaborate in-person two to three days a week, incorporating compliance into performance evaluations, as reported by the Financial Times.

"Being present at a Deloitte office or client site will now be considered in your … performance evaluations," stated Katie Zinn, the division's chief talent officer, in an internal message. The requirement for in-person collaboration is set at two to three days weekly, or 50%, according to Zinn's message. This policy applies specifically to Deloitte's US tax practice, where non-compliance could lead to reduced or no bonuses. This policy shift marks a more stringent approach to office attendance, aligning with broader industry trends in financial services where companies like JPMorgan emphasise in-office presence.

Deloitte US utilises badge swipes and timesheets to monitor employee locations, and office attendance is now a formal part of performance evaluations. This move highlights a departure from previous flexible work arrangements, focusing on a hybrid model that balances client needs and professional development. While the US arm enforces this policy, Deloitte's UK and India operations do not have a minimum office attendance requirement, illustrating regional policy differences. In India, the hybrid model remains, allowing employees to determine their office presence with their teams. The staff continue to decide their office attendance based on team requirements. Deloitte has advocated flexible working since 2014, officially adopting a hybrid work model three years ago.

The company asserts that employees "are trusted to decide how they work, in a way that works for their clients and colleagues too."

Infosys, one of India's leading IT companies, will be implementing a new attendance system that mandates employees to work from the office for at least 10 days each month, The Economic Times reported.

This change, effective from March 10, is aimed at increasing office attendance, which witnessed a significant decline post the COVID-19 pandemic. The system will be managed through a mobile application where employees are required to mark their physical presence at designated office locations. The new system will prioritise project needs over departmental requests, implying that work-from-home requests will no longer be automatically approved. Department heads have already communicated to employees, asking them to limit their work-from-home requests.

The initiative is designed to ensure compliance with hybrid work requirements while maintaining some level of flexibility. "To support this, starting March 10, 2025, system interventions will be implemented to limit the number of work-from-home days that can be applied each month. These measures are designed to ensure compliance with the new hybrid work requirements while maintaining flexibility for employees,"

ET report stated citing an email from department heads. This move follows Infosys's initial return-to-office programme launched on November 20, 2023, which designated specific weeks per quarter for full team presence. The shift towards more office-based work is driven by factors including economic slowdown, concerns about employee moonlighting, and the need to strengthen workplace culture. Infosys aims to facilitate better collaboration among its approximately 323,000 employees through this system intervention. Infosys's competitors have adopted different approaches to increase office attendance.

TCS, for example, links employee variable compensation to a five-day office attendance policy.

Meanwhile, Wipro has a hybrid work model requiring employees to work from the office three days a week, with an additional provision of 30 days of remote work annually. The "system intervention", as senior executives have termed it, is designed to ensure effective collaboration while affording flexibility to employees. Infosys employees will use the mobile app to record their attendance, which will no longer approve work-from-home requests by default, and will compulsorily require them to punch in 10 days a month.

The move to limit work-from-home options reflects a broader industry shift towards more structured attendance policies. As companies adapt to the post-pandemic landscape, balancing flexibility with collaboration and productivity remains a priority. Infosys's new policy highlights the evolving dynamics between remote and in-office work.

HR tech platform Darwinbox has raised $140 million in a funding round that brings global private equity giants Partners Group and KKR onto its cap table.

Partners Group, one of the largest firms in the global private markets industry (acting on behalf of its clients), and funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm, will co-lead this investment with additional participation from Gravity Holdings.

Chaitanya Peddi, Co-founder of Darwinbox, said that the investment is largely secondary, with early-stage investors partially liquidating their stakes while retaining meaningful equity in the company. The fresh capital injection will be used to bolster Darwinbox’s research and development (R&D) efforts and accelerate its global expansion, according to Peddi. “We have always been a product and R&D-first company. Our success against legacy HR tech players has been driven by product merit, and we want to maintain that edge,” he added.

Founded in 2015 in Hyderabad, Darwinbox is one of the leading HR tech firms which caters globally to 1,000 enterprises. In around a decade, Darwinbox has expanded internationally across multiple markets, including Asia Pacific, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Since its entry into North America two years ago, the company has seen significant traction and is doubling down on its regional presence. “By placing the employee experience front and center — and ensuring our platform is deeply configurable to diverse local needs — we have helped transform HR for enterprises globally. With top- tier investors backing us, we’re poised to amplify our global momentum and deliver innovative AI-powered solutions for thousands of enterprises worldwide,” Jayant Paleti, Co-founder of Darwinbox said in a statement. Despite its growing global footprint, India remains Darwinbox’s largest market.

However, by the end of the year, the company expects revenue contributions from India and the rest of the world to be on par. While profitability remains a long-term goal, the company is currently prioritising growth. “We are seeing rapid expansion in Southeast Asia and the US, and while we aim to grow efficiently, profitability timelines are difficult to predict,” Peddi noted. Darwinbox is doubling down on artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its innovation strategy. The company recently launched an AI-powered product suite spanning multiple HR functions and is actively developing AI-driven agents to assist HR professionals in talent acquisition, digital transformation, and other areas.

Additionally, Darwinbox has significantly expanded its payroll offerings. Having initially provided payroll services only in India, the company has now built a global payroll platform and rolled out services in nine countries, including the GCC region, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, with plans to extend to the US.

An initial public offering (IPO) remains a long-term milestone for Darwinbox, though there are no immediate plans to go public. The company’s near-term focus is on achieving $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) this year, a milestone that few Indian SaaS firms have crossed, particularly with a strong India-market presence. Positioning itself against global HR tech giants such as SAP, Oracle, and Workday, Darwinbox aims to consolidate its position as a leading end-to-end HR platform.

In a case that is seen to have a significant impact on restaurant chains and bakery businesses as well as several industries that rely on the classification of food services under the goods and services tax, the Bombay High Court has said that for now no coercive action will be initiated against Mad Over Donuts by the tax authorities on the disputed classification.

The Bombay High Court has also granted the petitioner, Mad Over Donuts (Himesh Foods), the liberty to approach the bench in case any recovery actions are taken by the GST department. In its recent hearing, the Court has also directed the tax department to file its response by March 17.

The matter is scheduled for further hearing on March 24. The case pertains to notices for GST sent to Himesh Foods as well as several other donut and bakery chains seeking 18% GST on sale of donuts and bakery items. The challenge arose as these chains contend that GST is to be paid at 5 per cent as the sale of these products fall under restaurant services. The case is being heard by a bench comprising Justice BP Colabawalla and Justice FP Pooniwalla on whether the supply of donuts falls within the ambit of restaurant services under Service Accounting Code (SAC) 9963 or should be categorised as a bakery product subject to separate tax treatment under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework.

Representing the petitioner, Mad Over Donuts (Himesh Foods), Abhishek A Rastogi contended that the supply of food or other edible articles qualifies as a composite supply of services under the Central GST Act. He also pointed out that the relevant GST rate notifications explicitly define restaurant services to include food supplied at restaurants, eating joints, messes, and canteens, whether for consumption on the premises or as takeaway. He also argued that official circular supports this interpretation by confirming that takeaway services should be classified as services and taxed at 5 per cent.

The Bombay High Court is also looking into another crucial aspect as part of the case on the issue of multiplicity of proceedings across different territorial jurisdictions. The bench examined whether a centralized show-cause notice (SCN) issued by the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) suffices or whether separate notices need to be issued for each GST registration.

The Bombay High Court has granted a temporary reprieve for former Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and five other officials by staying a special court's directive to file a First Information Report (FIR) concerning alleged stock market fraud.

The High Court, presided over by Justice Shivkumar Dige, found that the special court had issued its order without detailing any specific roles for the accused. "Hence, the order is stayed till next date. Four weeks time is given to the complainant in the case (Sapan Shrivastava) to file his affidavit in reply to the petitions," stated the High Court, granting Buch and her co-petitioners temporary relief in their ongoing legal battle. The special court's order for an FIR, which involved three current SEBI directors and two Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) officials, was based on a complaint alleging financial fraud, regulatory lapses, and corruption dating back to a company's listing in 1994.

The complaint, filed by media reporter Sapan Shrivastava, has been dismissed by SEBI as frivolous, with the regulatory body labelling Shrivastava a "frivolous and habitual litigant." "The applicant is known to be a frivolous and habitual litigant, with previous applications being dismissed by the court, with imposition of costs in some cases. SEBI would be initiating appropriate legal steps to challenge this order and remains committed to ensuring due regulatory compliance in all matters," SEBI noted in its statement, underscoring its intention to contest the special court's decision.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court's initial order was criticised for suggesting "prima facie evidence of regulatory lapses and collusion, requiring a fair and impartial probe," without allowing SEBI or BSE the opportunity to present their facts. BSE also contended that the officials named were not in their positions at the time of the alleged fraud, further questioning the basis of the allegations.

"Even though these officials were not holding their respective positions at the relevant point of time, the court allowed the application without issuing any notice or granting any opportunity to SEBI to place the facts on record," SEBI stated, highlighting procedural oversights in the court's handling of the case.

The High Court's intervention comes after SEBI challenged the ACB court's directive, with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing the SEBI officials in court. Shrivastava has been given a four-week deadline to submit an affidavit in response to the petitions, as the legal proceedings unfold against a backdrop of scrutinised judicial processes in corporate governance and regulatory oversight.

The Oberoi Group, managed by EIH Limited, will introduce two new resorts in Rishikesh.

The projects include an 80-key luxury Oberoi resort carrying the "vilas" branding and a 120-key five-star hotel under the Trident brand. The resorts will be situated on a vast 60-acre site bordered by the Ganges River, offering its guests a secluded retreat. These properties are owned by Devprayag Ganges Resorts and developed by Jamuna Hotel Enterprises, both part of The Ladhani Group. Renowned architect Bill Bensley will design the resorts that will offer luxury amid Rishikesh's breathtaking beauty. This development is a segment of EIH Ltd.'s ambitious growth strategy. It had previously revealed plans for 19 additional properties, including hotels and luxury vessels, by 2029.

"We are beyond excited to collaborate with The Oberoi Group, a brand synonymous with excellence in hospitality. Rishikesh is a destination of immense cultural and natural significance," stated SN Ladhani, Chairman of The Ladhani Group. Meanwhile, EIH Ltd recently posted record Q3 performance, with standalone revenue reaching Rs 722 crore and consolidated revenue achieving Rs 831 crore. Standalone and consolidated EBITDA have climbed to Rs 330 crore and Rs 388 crore, respectively.

Arjun Oberoi, Executive Chairman of The Oberoi Group, stated that the two resorts reflect the group’s unwavering commitment to expanding our presence in remarkable destinations. The construction of these resorts is slated to commence in early 2026. Vikram Oberoi, CEO & MD of The Oberoi Group, added that their goal is to create extraordinary hotels with strong financial performance. The Oberoi Group, established in 1934, manages 31 hotels and two Nile Cruisers across seven countries under the luxury 'Oberoi' and five-star 'Trident' brands.

Bhavish Aggarwal-led Ola Electric Mobility, backed by SoftBank Group, is reportedly set to lay off more than 1,000 employees and contract workers in a bid to tackle escalating losses.

The layoffs are expected to span departments such as procurement, fulfilment, customer relations, and charging infrastructure. This move marks the second round of workforce reductions in less than five months, following the company’s decision to let go of 500 employees in November.

Ola’s decision comes amidst a 50 per cent rise in losses for the December quarter and scrutiny from India's market regulator and consumer protection authority.

According to a report in Bloomberg, the latest wave of layoffs represents over a quarter of Ola's total workforce of approximately 4,000, which includes contract workers not publicly disclosed. As part of a restructuring effort, Ola is automating sections of its customer relations operations. An official statement from Ola stated, “We have restructured and automated our front-end operations delivering improved margins, reduced cost, and enhanced customer experience while eliminating redundant roles for better productivity.”

This overhaul has also impacted front-end sales and service staff in its showrooms and service centres, the report added. Ola Electric’s shares have plummeted by over 60 per cent since its initial public offering in August.

In February, Ola sold over 25,000 units, which was significantly below its target of 50,000 units, a benchmark set for achieving Ebitda breakeven. Adjustments with vendors have also affected vehicle registrations, as the company seeks to optimise costs and efficiencies. In response to service-related complaints, Ola Electric has significantly expanded its presence by adding 3,200 outlets in December. This expansion was part of a strategy to address customer dissatisfaction, which had reached around 80,000 complaints in a month.

Agristo Masa Pvt Ltd, a joint venture between Masa Global Food Pvt Ltd (part of Wave Group) and IMSTO NV, Belgium (holding company of Agristo NV, Belgium), announced an additional investment of Rs 750 crore in its potato processing unit in Bijnor.

The company aims to uplift the agricultural landscape of western Uttar Pradesh and empower local farmers, who have already seen their income levels rise by 50 per cent over the past three years. Since its inception in July 2022, the Bijnor plant has transformed potato cultivation in the region, doubling productivity from 17 tonnes per hectare to 32 tonnes per hectare — one of the highest yields in India. With this fresh investment, the total capital expenditure in the plant will surpass Rs 1,000 crore, ensuring sustainable growth and livelihood opportunities for thousands of farmers.

Over 2,500 farmers are expected to benefit from the expansion, adding to the 500 who have already been positively impacted by the facility’s interventions. Agristo Masa has been encouraging farmers of Bijnor and its surrounding districts like Moradabad and Hapur, known for sugarcane cultivation, to cultivate potatoes. The farmers are being given buyback options, pesticides, seeds and fertiliser by the company.

The Bijnor plant currently caters to both domestic and international markets, including North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Japan. Initially set up with an investment of ₹250 crore for a potato flakes facility, the new investment will enable the installation of a French fries production line, further enhancing the plant’s output and market reach. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Manpreet Singh Chadha, Chairman of Wave Group, emphasized the importance of diversifying crops beyond sugarcane and equipping farmers with modern technologies. “We aim to empower the farmers and diversify their cash crop beyond sugarcane. We have helped these farmers to double their potato output with the help of new technologies. Their income has increased by 50 per cent over the last three years,” he stated.

Kristof Wallays, Director of International Expansion, Innovation, and Sustainability at Agristo, highlighted the collaboration between Indian and Belgian expertise. “The Bijnor plant is a testament to how results can be achieved when vision and technical expertise are combined. Partnering with Masa Global Food has allowed us to contribute meaningfully to India’s rapidly evolving agriculture and food processing sectors while ensuring the development of all stakeholders. Next to the expertise of Indian farmers, we can rely on the expertise of several other Belgian companies, such as Vyncke through their Indian venture ForbesVyncke and AVR, specialised in harvesting machines,” he said.

The event saw the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Princess Astrid of Belgium, Uttar Pradesh’s Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna and Chief Secretary Manoj Singh. Also in attendance were Belgian and Indian government representatives, alongside members of the Belgian economic mission to India. Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, hailed the expansion as a symbol of strong Indo-Flemish relations and Belgium’s commitment to India’s growth story. “Flanders is known for setting the stage for groundbreaking innovations. The Indian facility of Agristo Masa is equipped with cutting-edge Flemish technology. This new investment not only strengthens economic growth in India but also paves the way for further innovation. This expansion will further scale the production and deepen the collaboration with local farmers,” he said.

A special court in Mumbai has directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to register an FIR against former SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and five other officials over alleged stock market fraud and regulatory violations.

"There is prima facie evidence of regulatory lapses and collusion, requiring a fair and impartial probe," special ACB court judge Shashikant Eknathrao Bangar said in his order on March 1. The court has decided to monitor the investigation and has sought a status report within 30 days.

It noted that the allegations reveal a cognisable offence, necessitating a formal probe. The order also criticized the inaction of law enforcement agencies and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), stating that judicial intervention was required under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC),as per a PTI report.

The complaint alleges large-scale financial fraud, regulatory violations and corruption. It alleged that a company was fraudulently listed on the stock exchange with the active involvement of regulatory authorities, particularly SEBI, bypassing compliance requirements under the SEBI Act, 1992. The complaint further alleges that SEBI officials failed in their duty, facilitated market manipulation, and enabled corporate fraud. Despite repeated complaints to police and regulatory bodies, no action was taken, the complainant claimed. After reviewing the case, the court directed ACB Worli, Mumbai Region, to register an FIR under relevant provisions of the IPC, Prevention of Corruption Act, SEBI Act, and other applicable laws.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is preparing to challenge an order by the ACB Court in Mumbai, which directed the filing of an FIR against former chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, three current whole-time members, and two officials of BSE. In a statement released on March 2, SEBI dismissed the complaint as coming from a “frivolous and habitual litigant” and asserted that it would take legal action to contest the ruling. BSE in a statement said the named company, Cals Refineries Ltd., was listed in 1994. The officials named in the application were not in their respective positions at the time of listing and were not connected with the company at all. The application is frivolous and vexatious in nature.

"The Honourable Court has allowed the application without issuing any notice or granting any opportunity to BSE to place the facts on record. BSE is initiating necessary and appropriate legal steps in this regard. As a responsible market institution, BSE remains committed to upholding regulatory compliance and ensuring transparency," the statement added.