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Corporate News - June 2026
ECONOMY
India & U. K. Trade Deal Takes Effect from July 15, 2026
India and the United Kingdom have resolved last-minute differences over steel import duties and announced July 15, 2026, as the implementation date for their landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Alongside the trade pact, a social security agreement will also come into force, exempting Indian and British workers from making dual social security contributions while working in the other country. Under the agreement, the U.K. will eliminate tariffs on 99% of tariff lines covering Indian exports, benefiting sectors such as textiles, leather, footwear, gems and jewellery, marine products, sports goods, and toys. Meanwhile, around 90% of tariff lines for British exports to India will see tariff reductions, with 85% becoming dutyfree within a decade. The pact also provides significant market access for key British products. Tariffs on whisky and gin will be reduced from 150% to 75% immediately and further lowered to 40% over ten years. Automobile duties will also fall from over 100% to 10% under a quota-based system, strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties.
India taps World Bank and ADB for $2.5 billion infrastructure spend
India is in discussions with multilateral institutions to secure approximately US$ 2.5 billion in funding to support infrastructure development and job creation initiatives. The proposed financing includes US$ 1.5 billion from the World Bank and US$1 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with announcements expected in the coming months. The funds are expected to strengthen urban infrastructure and support the government's broader development agenda as it seeks to modernise public assets and accelerate economic growth. The financing would form part of the World Bank Group's broader commitment to provide US$ 8–10 billion annually over five years to India. The move comes as the government explores additional funding avenues to sustain capital expenditure and advance its vision of transforming India into a developed economy by 2047. India remains the World Bank Group's largest client, with nearly US$ 37 billion in commitments, while the ADB has extended over US$ 63 billion in loans, grants, and technical assistance to the country to date.
TECHNOLOGY
CPP Investments Commits US$ 710 million to CtrlS Datacenters to Expand India's Digital Infrastructure
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) has entered a strategic partnership with CtrlS Datacenters, committing up to Rs. 6,710.21 crore (US$ 710 million) to support the expansion of digital infrastructure in India. The investment reflects growing global investor confidence in India's rapidly expanding data centre sector, driven by rising demand for cloud computing, hyperscale infrastructure and AI-ready capacity. As part of the transaction, CPP Investments will invest Rs. 3,945.81 crore (US$ 448.52 million) to acquire an 8.2% stake in CtrlS Datacenters, valuing the company at approximately Rs. 44,325.19 crore (US$ 5.16 billion) on a pre-money basis. The partnership underscores the increasing importance of digital infrastructure in supporting India's digital economy and accelerating technologyled growth. In addition, CPP Investments and CtrlS will establish a joint venture to develop hyperscale data centre campuses across India. CPP Investments has committed up to Rs. 2,958.41 crore (US$ 313.11 million) to the venture and will hold a 48% stake, while CtrlS will retain 52% ownership. The investment is expected to strengthen India's digital infrastructure ecosystem by supporting the growing requirements of cloud service providers, enterprises and AI-driven applications.
ESG
EU Council Backs Expansion of CBAM Carbon Import Tax to Finished Goods
The Council of the European Union has endorsed proposals to strengthen the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), paving the way for negotiations with the European Parliament on one of the bloc's key climate-trade policies. The proposed reforms aim to broaden CBAM's coverage to include additional products and address loopholes that may enable companies to circumvent the system.
Currently focused primarily on carbon-intensive raw materials, CBAM has left a gap for EU-manufactured goods that rely heavily on covered inputs such as iron, steel, and aluminium. To address this, the Council has refined the list of products that could be brought under the mechanism and called for annual reviews by the European Commission to assess further downstream products for inclusion.
The proposed expansion signals a significant evolution of CBAM from a border adjustment measure targeting basic materials to a broader industrial policy tool designed to protect EU competitiveness while encouraging global emissions reductions.
Bloomberg Expands Transition Toolkit as Investors Face $2.3 Trillion Climate Capital Shift
Bloomberg has enhanced its Transition Toolkit to help investors navigate an increasingly complex climate-risk landscape shaped by energy security concerns, uneven policy frameworks, and growing investment in clean technologies. The upgraded toolkit is designed to support portfolio managers in identifying, assessing, and managing transition-related risks and opportunities across investment and risk-management processes. The expansion comes as global energy-transition investment reached a record $2.3 trillion in 2025, according to BloombergNEF, marking an 8% increase over the previous year despite market and policy challenges. Bloomberg expects investment levels to continue rising as energy demand grows and governments intensify their focus on energy security. In addition, Bloomberg has introduced Climate Alignment Scores through the Bloomberg Terminal and Data License. Based on Bloomberg's carbon emissions forecasts, the scores assess how closely companies align with sector- and region-specific transition pathways, enabling investors to evaluate climate readiness and emissions performance within industry and geographic contexts.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Lloyds Engineering to acquire controlling stake in steel fabrication firm SISCOL
Lloyds Engineering Works Limited (LEWL), one of India's leading engineering and EPC companies, has announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in Steel Infra Solutions Company Limited (SISCOL) at an equity valuation of approximately C1,220 crore. The transaction will be financed through a combination of cash and equity.
As part of the acquisition, LEWL plans to expand SISCOL's fabrication capacity from 100,000 MTPA to 200,000 MTPA, positioning it as India's largest structural steel fabrication company. The enhanced scale is expected to strengthen the combined entity's ability to undertake large and complex infrastructure projects.
The deal is also anticipated to generate significant operational synergies across procurement, engineering, project management, manufacturing planning, and corporate functions. SISCOL will continue to operate under its existing brand and leadership, with Ravi Uppal remaining Chairman and Managing Director, supported by the current senior management team.
L'Oréal to acquire a majority stake in Innovist, a leading digital-first Indian personal care house of brands
French beauty brand L'Oréal has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Innovist, a fast-growing Indian personal care house of brands, reinforcing its commitment to India's rapidly expanding beauty and personal care market. Under the agreement, Innovist's founding team will continue to lead the business while retaining a minority stake. Innovist's portfolio of science-backed skincare and haircare brands, designed specifically for Indian consumers, will be integrated into L'Oréal's Consumer Products Division. The transaction, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the coming months. The acquisition further strengthens L'Oréal's footprint in one of the world's fastest-growing beauty markets and enhances its portfolio with innovative, digitally native brands catering to evolving consumer preferences.
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Institute of Directors (IOD) is an apex national association of Corporate Directors under the India's 'Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860'. Currently it is associated with over 31,000 senior executives from Govt, PSU and Private organizations of India and abroad.
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