Category Archives: Business

4-Day Workshop on Public Speaking

Public speaking is a skill, not a talent. It can be learned easily: Public Speaking expert

Hyderabad, May 27….…… Media Junction, a specialist school for Public Speaking, announced its latest batch of a Four-Day Workshop on Effective Public Speaking. The four-day session will be held from May 28 to 31st, from 6 pm to 9.30 pm, at the Premises of Media Junction, Ground Floor 4A, Parthani Towers, Golconda Cross Roads, Musheerabad, Hyderabad.

Public speaking enthusiasts and communications practitioner D. Ramchandram will conduct the Workshop.

Media Junction has pioneered this exclusive workshop on the subject uninterruptedly for the past 22 years.  The workshop is targeted at politicians, businessmen, startup leaders, corporate executives, professionals such as lawyers, doctors, Salespeople, marketing professionals, teaching professionals, IT professionals, and everybody.

For many, “Mike is a bomb”, informs D. Ramchandram, the public speaking trainer.  And they continue to suffer throughout their life. Thankfully, there is a solution to this problem.  Everybody can speak well with a little bit of instruction and guidance.  Anyone can master public speaking, added Ram, who has hundreds of workshops to his credit.

“Public speaking is a skill, not a talent”. It can be easily acquired.  Please don’t assume that you need to be born a natural public speaker.  It is a learnable skill. You need this skill to promote your business/profession to customers and investors.   You can’t outsource public speaking; as an entrepreneur, it’s up to you to be the face of your business. Speakers are leaders, and leaders are speakers.

Media Junction gives you the guarantee that you will be able to speak confidently in four days. Give me the dumbest man/woman in the world, we can make him or her “say what he or she wants to say”, informs Kalpana, Director of Media Junction. 

The workshop teaches the art of Speech Making, Writing, Body Language, Impromptu Speeches, Humorous Speeches, Content Management for Speech Preparation, and many other relevant subjects. 

Only 15 participants are allowed in a batch.

Finance Minister Launches SIDBI MSME Initiatives Including Co-Lending Portal and Credit Cards

ten23 health® strengthens leadership team to drive its next stage of growth

Basel, Switzerland, May 26: ten23 health®, the human-centric and sustainable strategic CDMO partner of choice for the pharmaceutical industry and biotech start-ups, today announced changes to its leadership team as part of its ongoing commitment to position the company for further long-term growth. These updates reflect a thoughtful alignment of leadership to support the continued expansion of ten23’s capabilities and manufacturing capacity.

From May 1^st, 2026, Andrea Wesp assumed responsibility as Chief Business Officer (CBO). Andrea brings broad experience as a global business leader, having led large international organizations through strategic transformation, innovation and sustainable growth. She combines deep commercial acumen with technical and operational expertise across the pharmaceutical and CDMO value chain. Andrea joins ten23 from Siegfried, where she served as VP Market Development BD & Sales Drug Products. Prior to that, she held a range of roles, including VP New Business Development at Vetter Pharma, and VP Sterile Solutions/BU Pharmaceutical Systems at Schott Pharma. She holds a chemical and process engineering degree from the Technical University of Hamburg, and a business economics degree from FU Hagen in Germany.

Stephanie Knüppel assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) on April 1^st, 2026, after joining ten23 in in June 2025 as Chief of Staff to the COO. She brings extensive experience in leading manufacturing and operations teams, along with strong sterile product knowledge. As E2E Value Stream Lead (Head) of Manufacturing & Packaging Operations at the Roche Kaiseraugst commercial production site, she was responsible for launches, tech transfer and industrialization, and gained extensive experience in compounding, sterile aseptic manufacturing, visual inspection, validation/qualification, device combination products, supply chain resilience, Annex 1 and regulatory authority inspections. Stephanie studied chemistry and holds a PhD from the University of Münster in Germany.

Susanne Jörg, who previously held the position as COO, began her new role as Chief of Staff to the CEO on April 1^st, 2026. Before joining ten23 health in 2021 as COO, Susanne held several senior positions in Lonza and Novartis. She has over 15 years’ experience in formulation development, process development, transfer and validation, sterile manufacturing and regulatory submissions for early-, late-stage and life-cycle parenteral dosage forms. As the new Chief of Staff, Susanne will support ten23’s CEO Hanns-Christian Mahler in strategic initiatives, and will be instrumental in preparing the company for its future growth.

From March 1^st, 2026, Felicia Werk assumed the role as Chief People & Culture Officer. Felicia joined ten23 in May 2022 to lead ten23’s Learning & Development activities. She previously held a range of senior positions at Bayer, including Global HR Change and Transformation Lead, Head of Business Development, Operational Excellence Manager, Strategy Deployment Lead, and People and Organizational Development Lead. She holds a master’s degree in business psychology from the University of Trier in Germany and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in the UK.

Alessandra Seriacopi joined ten23 as Chief Quality Officer (CQO) in September 2025. Alessandra brings over 20 years’ experience in quality leadership across the pharmaceuticals, biotech, and vaccines sectors. She was previously Senior Quality Director Drug Product Division EU and APAC at Thermo Fisher Scientific, and held senior roles at MSD, Novartis, and GSK, where she led global quality operations, regulatory compliance, and successful product launches. Alessandra has profound expertise in GMP quality systems, regulatory inspections, and managing complex CDMO environments. She holds a master’s degree in chemistry from the University di Siena in Italy.

The recent appointments are complemented by (in sequence of tenure at ten23) Andrea Allmendinger, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), Patrick Klassnitz, Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Alissa Monk, Head of Fairstainability, and Creixell Espilla-Gilart, Chief Marketing Officer.

“We are delighted to welcome our newly appointed leaders. Together, they will bring deep and diverse industry expertise, proven execution, and different perspectives that are unique in the CDMO space. The new leadership team will accelerate our next growth stage, support our expansion, and ensure an agile focus on operational excellence and customer needs,” said Hanns-Christian Mahler, Chief Enablement Officer (CEO) at ten23 health.

He continued, “I am confident that this leadership evolution will enhance the way we support and serve our customers and their patients, unlock new opportunities, and build on our strong foundation for continued success and the next stage of growth.”

Moneycontrol Eco Pulse rises to 51.6 in April as exports, manufacturing lift activity

Index returns to expansion zone despite West Asia disruptions; exports, PMI strength and rural demand offset softer urban consumption

India, 26th May 2026: India’s economy performed better in April, with the Moneycontrol Eco Pulse Index rising to 51.6 from 49.2 in the previous month, despite disruptions from the West Asia crisis continuing for yet another month.

A reading above 50 signals expansion, indicating that economic momentum recovered after March’s contraction as manufacturing, exports and parts of domestic consumption continued to support activity.

What’s moving the index?

The recovery was led by an improvement in business activity. Manufacturing PMI rose to 54.7 in April from 53.9 in March, while services PMI improved to 58.8 from 57.5. The composite PMI also rose to 58.2, suggesting that private-sector activity remained resilient despite global uncertainty.

Exports provided a major boost after March’s weakness. Merchandise exports grew 13.8 percent in April, compared with a contraction of 7.4 percent in the previous month.

Consumption indicators remained supportive, although momentum moderated in some segments. Four-wheeler sales grew 11.6 percent, slower than 25.8 percent in March, while two-wheeler sales rose 13 percent compared with 29.5 percent earlier. Tractor sales, however, strengthened to 24.5 percent, pointing to stronger rural demand.

Financial activity stayed firm. Non-food credit grew 16.3 percent, while UPI volumes rose 24.9 percent, higher than 23.7 percent in March. However, credit card payments slowed sharply to 0.7 percent from 7.1 percent, indicating some softness in discretionary urban spending.

Infrastructure indicators showed only a modest improvement. Core sector output rose 1.7 percent in April, compared with 1.2 percent in March, while electricity demand growth improved to 3.9 percent from 1.7 percent. Major port cargo traffic also rose by 2.5 percent.

Labour market indicators were mixed. Urban unemployment eased to 6.6 percent from 6.8 percent, while youth unemployment declined to 18 percent from 18.4 percent. However, the Naukri Job Speak Index slowed to 5.8 percent, suggesting moderation in formal hiring momentum.

Inflation remained a key pressure point. Wholesale inflation accelerated to 8.3 percent in April from 3.9 percent in March, reflecting the impact of higher commodity prices and supply disruptions linked to the West Asia crisis.

The April reading suggests that India’s economy regained momentum after March’s contraction, but the recovery remains uneven. Manufacturing, exports and rural demand supported the index, while softer credit card spending, slower e-way bill growth and weak fuel indicators pointed to areas of caution.

The government allowed some pass-through of crude prices, with pump prices rising by nearly Rs 4 for both diesel and petrol. The increased prices are likely to start reflecting in consumption, with no end to the West Asia crisis in sight as yet.

Moreover, adverse weather conditions, such as El Niño, may hamper rural consumption.

The Moneycontrol Eco Pulse tracks high-frequency indicators across consumption, manufacturing, labour markets, trade and financial activity to provide an early monthly snapshot of India’s economic momentum ahead of official GDP releases.

Bertelsmann India Investments Leads Fairdeal.Market’s Dollar 15M Series A to Expand B2B Quick Commerce for Kirana Stores

New Delhi, May26 : Fairdeal.Market, a B2B quick commerce platform building the replenishment infrastructure for India’s kirana economy has raised US Dollar 15 million in a funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments . WaterBridge Ventures is returning as a cornerstone investor from seed, and Incubate Asia Fund is also participating in the round.

The company currently operates across Delhi NCR and is actively expanding its retailer network, dark store footprint, and brand partnerships. The fresh capital will be deployed to scale dark-store operations across dense urban clusters, strengthen technology and data infrastructure, deepen retailer engagement, and expand last-mile delivery capabilities to redefine the retail business in India.

Fairdeal is India’s first B2B quick commerce platform which delivers 1,000+ SKUs to kirana retailers across Delhi NCR within 60 minutes, bringing speed and reliability to a procurement system that has remained unchanged for decades. Kiranas order what they need, when they need it, and get it in 60 minutes. That is the Fairdeal promise. In the last six months, Fairdeal has scaled to over 20,000 active retailers across Delhi NCR. More notably, over 80% of retailers who ordered from Fairdeal 12 months ago are still ordering today, this reflects the growing reliance of retailers on Fairdeal’s replenishment network.

India is home to over 13 million kirana stores. Yet, inventory procurement for these retailers still largely depends on offline wholesale markets and fragmented distributor networks that were never designed for small-format, high-frequency retail. Delhi NCR alone accounts for approximately 260,000–280,000 retailers, representing one of the largest yet most underserved markets in the world. While earlier B2B commerce models attempted to address this gap, Fairdeal’s approach is built specifically around the replenishment frequency and operational realities of kirana retail  enabling retailers to replenish inventory within 60 minutes.

Building on its Delhi NCR foundation, Fairdeal will leverage this round of funding to accelerate its expansion into new metropolitan cities across India. The company aims to scale its retailer network to over 100,000 retailers within the current financial year. And as this network grows, so does something far more valuable: a compounding data flywheel that gives brands real-time intelligence into what is selling, where, and why. For brands, that is a capability that has never existed before. For Fairdeal, it is the foundation of a business that gets stronger with every order placed.

“India’s kirana stores are the backbone of the country’s retail economy, yet the procurement infrastructure serving them has barely evolved in decades. The inefficiency isn’t incidental; it’s structural. If we can help millions of small retailers operate better every day, the impact will go far beyond commerce, it will strengthen local economies across the country. That’s the problem Fairdeal was built to solve, and this round gives us the firepower to solve it at scale,”said Prateek Bansal, Co-founder, Fairdeal

“We started Fairdeal with a simple belief that every retailer, no matter how small, should have access to reliable inventory and the ability to grow with confidence. At the same time, thousands of emerging brands across India are building great products but struggle to access efficient offline distribution. Fairdeal is bridging that gap by building a simple supply and distribution infrastructure that powers the next generation of offline retail in India, where small businesses and emerging brands can grow together with the same speed,” said Yash Bansal, Co-founder, Fairdeal.

“FairDeal is building a new operating model for wholesale procurement in India. What Prateek and Yash understood early was that quick commerce in wholesale is not just about convenience; it fundamentally improves inventory turns, shelf efficiency, and replenishment reliability for kirana stores. They have been pioneers in bringing this approach to the category, and the early traction has been phenomenal. We are excited to partner with them on this ambitious journey,” said Rohit Sood, Partner, Bertelsmann India Investments.

“At WaterBridge, we remain excited about the nonlinear potential of the demand engine that Fairdeal has built. At scale, it will process millions of real-time retail transactions with precise cart-level visibility, empowering it to build a large data set with context and intelligence layers on top. These will provide live actionable insights to brands on what is selling, where, and why, and not what sold last quarter. It is a potential that comes from what the data becomes at scale,” said Ashish Jain, Partner, WaterBridge Ventures.

Bertelsmann India Investments Backs Fairdeal.Market’s $15M Series A for B2B Quick Commerce Expansion

New Delhi, May 26: Fairdeal.Market, a B2B quick commerce platform building the replenishment infrastructure for India’s kirana economy has raised US$15 million in a funding round led by Bertelsmann India Investments (BII). WaterBridge Ventures is returning as a cornerstone investor from seed, and Incubate Asia Fund is also participating in the round.

The company currently operates across Delhi NCR and is actively expanding its retailer network, dark store footprint, and brand partnerships. The fresh capital will be deployed to scale dark-store operations across dense urban clusters, strengthen technology and data infrastructure, deepen retailer engagement, and expand last-mile delivery capabilities to redefine the retail business in India.

Fairdeal is India’s first B2B quick commerce platform which delivers 1,000+ SKUs to kirana retailers across Delhi NCR within 60 minutes, bringing speed and reliability to a procurement system that has remained unchanged for decades. Kiranas order what they need, when they need it, and get it in 60 minutes. That is the Fairdeal promise. In the last six months, Fairdeal has scaled to over 20,000 active retailers across Delhi NCR. More notably, over 80% of retailers who ordered from Fairdeal 12 months ago are still ordering today, this reflects the growing reliance of retailers on Fairdeal’s replenishment network.

India is home to over 13 million kirana stores. Yet, inventory procurement for these retailers still largely depends on offline wholesale markets and fragmented distributor networks that were never designed for small-format, high-frequency retail. Delhi NCR alone accounts for approximately 260,000–280,000 retailers, representing one of the largest yet most underserved markets in the world. While earlier B2B commerce models attempted to address this gap, Fairdeal’s approach is built specifically around the replenishment frequency and operational realities of kirana retail — enabling retailers to replenish inventory within 60 minutes.

Building on its Delhi NCR foundation, Fairdeal will leverage this round of funding to accelerate its expansion into new metropolitan cities across India. The company aims to scale its retailer network to over 100,000 retailers within the current financial year. And as this network grows, so does something far more valuable: a compounding data flywheel that gives brands real-time intelligence into what is selling, where, and why. For brands, that is a capability that has never existed before. For Fairdeal, it is the foundation of a business that gets stronger with every order placed.

“India’s kirana stores are the backbone of the country’s retail economy, yet the procurement infrastructure serving them has barely evolved in decades. The inefficiency isn’t incidental; it’s structural. If we can help millions of small retailers operate better every day, the impact will go far beyond commerce, it will strengthen local economies across the country. That’s the problem Fairdeal was built to solve, and this round gives us the firepower to solve it at scale,”said Prateek Bansal, Co-founder, Fairdeal

“We started Fairdeal with a simple belief that every retailer, no matter how small, should have access to reliable inventory and the ability to grow with confidence. At the same time, thousands of emerging brands across India are building great products but struggle to access efficient offline distribution. Fairdeal is bridging that gap by building a simple supply and distribution infrastructure that powers the next generation of offline retail in India, where small businesses and emerging brands can grow together with the same speed,” said Yash Bansal, Co-founder, Fairdeal.

“FairDeal is building a new operating model for wholesale procurement in India. What Prateek and Yash understood early was that quick commerce in wholesale is not just about convenience; it fundamentally improves inventory turns, shelf efficiency, and replenishment reliability for kirana stores. They have been pioneers in bringing this approach to the category, and the early traction has been phenomenal. We are excited to partner with them on this ambitious journey,” said Rohit Sood, Partner, Bertelsmann India Investments.

“At WaterBridge, we remain excited about the nonlinear potential of the demand engine that Fairdeal has built. At scale, it will process millions of real-time retail transactions with precise cart-level visibility, empowering it to build a large data set with context and intelligence layers on top. These will provide live actionable insights to brands on what is selling, where, and why, and not what sold last quarter. It is a potential that comes from what the data becomes at scale,” said Ashish Jain, Partner, WaterBridge Ventures.

A Different Kind of Seattle Landmark: World’s Largest Goodwill Offers Visitors a One-of-a-Kind Experience Near Seattle Stadium

SEATTLE — May 26, 2026 — With Seattle set to welcome visitors from around the world for the FIFA Soccer World Cup in just a few weeks, those planning their time between matches will likely gravitate toward familiar stops, such as Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, and MoPOP. Just steps from Seattle Stadium, a less known stop offers a different kind of experience: 

Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington’s Seattle flagship store, the largest Goodwill in the world, invites visitors to immerse themselves into something very Seattle—the city’s commitment to sustainability and the circular economy.

A treasure hunters’ paradise, the 70,000-square-foot resale space stocks approximately 10,000 new items on the shop floor each day. A team comprised of members from over 20 different nations assists visitors as they explore and replace whatever they may have forgotten at home or didn’t realize they might need for their trip.

For travelers navigating a busy and often expensive event, resale offers a compelling shopping alternative:

• A multitude of affordable options at a time when prices are rising
• Access to quality used items being kept out of landfills for minimum environmental impact
• A retail experience shaped by the local community, where inventory reflects what Seattleites give—the best starting point for memorable travel souvenirs

For those moving between matches or exploring nearby neighborhoods, the store can serve several purposes at once: a place to pick up an extra layer, find something unexpected, or take home a piece of Seattle that doesn’t feel mass-produced. Its proximity to Seattle Stadium makes it an easy addition to any itinerary, whether stopping in briefly or spending time exploring.

Unlike traditional retail, each purchase carries an added dimension. Revenue from every sale supports Evergreen Goodwill’s tuition-free job training, education, and career placement programs across Northwest Washington, connecting everyday shopping to long-term community impact. 

UK’s Crypto Pivot Sparks New Possibilities for India’s Digital Finance Sector

New Delhi, 25 May 2026

The United Kingdom has made a quiet but decisive shift in how it views crypto. What was once treated as a risky, fringe activity is now being brought firmly within the boundaries of mainstream financial regulation. This is not a rhetorical change but it is structural. The UK is building a full regulatory regime where crypto firms will be authorised, supervised, and held to standards similar to traditional financial institutions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has already laid out timelines, with firms expected to begin applying for authorisation from September 2026, ahead of a broader regime coming into force in 2027.

What is striking about the UK approach is that it is anti-disorder. Regulators are simultaneously encouraging innovation and tightening enforcement. Stablecoins, for instance, are being actively explored as part of the payments ecosystem, with regulatory sandboxes allowing experimentation under supervision. At the same time, authorities have shown they are willing to act against non-compliant activity, including recent crackdowns on illegal crypto trading networks.

 India, in contrast, has taken a far more cautious and fragmented path. Instead of building a regulatory framework, it has focused on taxation as the primary tool of policy. Crypto gains are taxed at a flat 30%, accompanied by a 1% tax deducted at source on transactions. This makes India one of the most heavily taxed crypto markets in the world. Yet, despite this clarity on taxation, there is still no comprehensive regulatory structure governing exchanges, custody, or investor protection.

This creates a peculiar imbalance. Crypto is recognised as a taxable asset, but not as a regulated financial product. The state participates in the upside through taxes without fully defining the rules of the market itself. At the same time, institutional caution remains high. The Reserve Bank of India has repeatedly flagged concerns around financial stability and has instead pushed for a central bank digital currency as a safer alternative to private crypto assets.
The divergence between the UK and India reflects two very different policy instincts. The UK is choosing integration: bringing crypto into the system, regulating it, and shaping its evolution from within. India is choosing containment: discouraging excessive participation while waiting for global standards to settle. Both approaches are defensible, but they lead to very different outcomes in practice.

The UK’s model creates clarity. Firms know the rules, investors understand the risks, and innovation happens within defined boundaries. India’s approach, however, risks creating prolonged uncertainty. High taxes combined with regulatory ambiguity risk pushing activity offshore, even as domestic demand continues to exist. Industry voices in India have increasingly called for clearer rules and rationalisation of the tax regime, arguing that certainty not just caution  is essential for growth.

What is becoming evident is that crypto policy is no longer just about risk management it is about economic positioning. The UK is attempting to position itself as a global hub where crypto can operate within a trusted regulatory environment. India, by contrast, is still calibrating its stance, balancing concerns around stability with the need to not fall behind in financial innovation.

In the end, the question for India is not whether to follow the UK model, but whether its current middle path is sustainable. Markets tend to gravitate toward jurisdictions that offer clarity, even if the rules are strict. A system that taxes without regulating may not hold for long. Because in finance, as in policy, choosing to wait is not a neutral act. It is a decision in itself and one that shapes who leads and who follows in the next phase of global financial evolution.

Affordable Grooming Gets a Boost as VI-JOHN Launches Rs.20 Twin Blade Razor

Ghaziabad 25 May 2026:

VI-JOHN strengthens its grooming portfolio with a comfortable, value-driven shaving solution for the mass market. Reinforcing its commitment to making quality grooming accessible to a wider base of consumers, VI-JOHN has announced the launch of the VI-JOHN Shave Pro Twin Blade Razor, an affordable shaving solution designed to deliver a smooth, comfortable, and reliable shaving experience for the mass Indian market. Priced at just ₹20, the razor aims to bridge the gap between low-cost disposable razors and premium multi-blade systems by offering improved shaving performance at an accessible price point.

The launch marks VI-JOHN’s strategic entry into the affordable razor category as the brand continues to strengthen its presence across the broader men’s grooming ecosystem. Building on its strong legacy in shaving preparations and grooming products, the company aims to make upgraded shaving experiences accessible to consumers across urban, semi-urban, and rural India.

Speaking on the launch, Ashutosh Chaudharie, GM Marketing, VI-JOHN Group, said, “At VI-JOHN, we have always believed that quality grooming should be accessible to every consumer. Shaving is an everyday ritual for millions of Indian men, and we saw an opportunity to introduce a product that delivers both comfort and value. With the launch of the VI-JOHN Shave Pro Twin Blade Razor, we aim to offer consumers a reliable grooming solution that combines quality, performance, and affordability. This launch also reflects our larger vision of democratising quality grooming and expanding VI-JOHN’s presence across the shaving ecosystem.”

 
The razor features two super sharp Japanese blades designed to provide a closer and more precise shave with minimal effort. It also includes an Aloe Vera lubrication strip that helps soothe the skin, improve glide, and reduce irritation during shaving. Additionally, the razor’s longer ergonomic handle offers better grip and control, improving stability and helping minimise the risk of nicks and cuts during everyday use.
 
The product has been developed keeping Indian grooming habits and consumer preferences in mind, where affordability, convenience, and reliable performance remain key purchase drivers. With a large proportion of consumers still relying on basic shaving solutions, VI-JOHN identified a strong opportunity to introduce a better-quality razor that balances comfort, performance, and value.
 
India’s grooming market continues to see growing demand for affordable yet effective grooming products, particularly across Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural markets where grooming awareness and aspirations are steadily rising. With nearly 65% of India’s population residing in semi-urban and rural areas.
With the launch of Shave Pro, VI-JOHN continues to strengthen its commitment to delivering affordable, reliable, and accessible grooming solutions for Indian consumers.

Sundaram Finance logs disbursements of Rs. 32,321 crores for FY26

Audited standalone & consolidated financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026

L to R -Mr. M. Ramaswamy, Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Rajiv C. Lochan, Managing Director, and Mr. A. N. Raju, Joint Managing Director of Sundaram Finance Limited addressing the media 

May 25: The Board of Directors of Sundaram Finance Ltd. (SFL) approved the audited standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026, at its meeting held on May 25, 2026, in Chennai.

“Q4FY26 witnessed continued improvement in the economic environment following the GST 2.0 reforms effected in September 2025. While H1FY26 witnessed trade tariff related complications resulting in somewhat muted demand and macroeconomic activity, H2FY26 gathered steam spurred by the transmission of monetary policy and stimulus provided by fiscal policy measures.Under these circumstances, Team Sundaram has delivered 16.4% growth in AUM to Rs. 59,908 crores, asset quality with net stage 3 assets at 0.69% vs 0.75% last year and profits after tax growth of 19% year-on-year. Our Group companies in asset management, general insurance and home finance have continued to record strong results. We continue to rely on our time-tested approach of steady and sustainable growth with best-in-class asset quality and consistent profitability,” said Harsha Viji, Executive Vice Chairman.

AUM for FY26 grew 16% to Rs. 59,908 crores. Disbursements for FY26 recorded a growth of 14% over FY25 and for Q4FY26, disbursements have grown 17% Y-o-Y. Gross stage 3 assets as on March 31, 2026, stood at 1.44% with provision cover of 53% as against 1.44% as on March 31, 2025, with provision cover of 49%. Profits from operations performed strongly, growing by 18% in FY26 and 14% in Q4FY26. Profit after tax registered a 19% rise in FY26, with net profit at Rs. 1,834 crores.

During the year, the Company has considered Rs. 75 crores under “Exceptional Items” for the incremental impact of the new Labour Codes. Consequently, for Q4, the net profit grew by 11% to Rs. 608 crores. Return on assets closed at 3.03% in FY26 as against 2.85% for FY25 and capital adequacy at 19.1% remained quite comfortable.

Rajiv Lochan, Managing Director, stated, “Our overall performance for the year has been well balanced across growth, asset quality and profitability. Our profitability and profit growth has been strong, asset quality has improved substantially in Q4FY26 to close the year well and growth in disbursements and assets under management has been reasonable. Looking ahead, we remain optimistic that India’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong supported by resilient domestic consumption, sustained public capital expenditure and a gradual revival in private investment. While uncertainties due to geopolitical challenges are a key monitorable, we remain confident of our plan to gain market share, maintain best in class asset quality and operating expenses and deliver sustainable profit growth.”

STANDALONE PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY26

·Disbursements for FY26 grew by 14% to Rs. 32,321 crores as compared to Rs. 28,405 crores registered in FY25. Disbursements for Q4FY26 grew by 17% to Rs. 8,051 crores as compared to Rs. 6,873 crores registered in Q4FY25.

·The assets under management grew by 16% to Rs. 59,908 crores as on 31stMarch 2026 as against Rs. 51,476 crores as on 31stMarch 2025.

·Net interest income (NII) grew by 21% to Rs. 3,376 crores in FY26 from Rs. 2,793 crores in FY25. Q4FY26 growth in NII was 20% to Rs. 901 crores.

·Gross stage 3 assets as on 31stMarch 2026 stood at 1.44% with 53% provision cover as against 1.44% with provision cover of 49% as on 31stMarch 2025. Net stage 3 assets as on 31stMarch 2026 closed at 0.69% as against 0.75% as on 31stMarch 2025. During the year, the Company reviewed and refined its methodology for computing Expected Credit Loss (ECL), including the use of more recent historical data and machine learning-based model enhancements, where appropriate.

·The Gross and Net NPA, as per RBI’s asset classification norms for NBFCs, are 2.14% and 1.27% respectivelyas against 2.17% and 1.38% as of 31stMarch 2025.

·Costto income ratio improved to 28.71% in FY26 as against 30.80% in FY25.

·Profits from operations grew 18% to Rs. 2,151 crores in FY26 as against Rs. 1,825 crores in FY25. For the quarter, profits from operations grew 14% to Rs. 622 crores.

·The Company has considered Rs. 75 crores under “Exceptional Items” for the incremental impact of the new Labour Codes.

·Higher dividend income resulted in profit after tax registering 19% rise in FY26, with net profit at Rs. 1,834 crores as against Rs. 1,543 crores in FY25. For Q4FY26, PAT grew 11% Y-o-Y to Rs. 608 crores.

·Return on assets (ROA) for FY26 closed at 3.03% as against 2.85% for FY25. Return on equity (ROE) was at 17.49% for FY26 as against 16.30% for FY25. Including the impact of new Labour Codes, the ROA and ROE for FY26 were 2.94% and 17.00% respectively.

·Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 19.1% (Tier I –17.2%) as of 31stMarch 2026 compared to 20.4% (Tier I – 17.4%) as of 31stMarch 2025.

·The Company has declared a final dividend of Rs. 24/- per share (240%).

CONSOLIDATED PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY26

The consolidated results of SFL include the results of its standalone subsidiaries Sundaram Home Finance, Sundaram Asset Management and joint venture company Royal Sundaram General Insurance.

·The assets under management (AUM) in our lending and general insurance businesses stood at Rs. 89,541 crores as on 31stMarch 2026 as against Rs. 78,145 crores as on 31stMarch 2025, a growth of 15%. The assets under management of our asset management business stood at Rs. 77,457 crores as on 31stMarch 2026 as against Rs. 71,826 crores as on 31stMarch 2025.

·Profit after tax for FY26 grew by 10% to Rs. 2,059 crores as compared to Rs. 1,879 crores in FY25, after considering Rs. 76 crores under “Exceptional Items” for the incremental impact of the new Labour Codes.

GROUP COMPANY PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Our group companies continued to perform well.

·The asset management business closed the year ended 31stMarch 2026with assets under management of Rs. 77,457 crores (around 80% in equity) and consolidated profits from the asset management businesses were at Rs. 174 croresas against Rs. 154 crores in FY25.

·Royal Sundaram reported a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 4,638crores as compared to Rs. 4,065 crores in the previous year, representing a growth of 14%. The company reported a profit after tax of Rs. 107 crores for FY26 as against a profit of Rs. 133 crores in FY25.

·Sundaram Home Finance disbursements grew by 4% to Rs. 6,805 crores in FY26. The profit for FY26 was Rs. 282 crores, as against Rs. 245 crores in FY25.Gross stage 3 assets as on 31stMarch 2026 stood at 1.11% as against 1.02% as on 31stMarch 2025. Net stage 3 assets as on 31stMarch 2026 closed at 0.51% as against 0.53% as on 31stMarch 2025.The Gross and Net NPA, as per RBI’s asset classification norms, are 1.21% and 0.59% respectivelyas against 1.33% and 0.77% as of 31stMarch 2025.