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Corporate News - March 2026
ESG
IFRS Foundation proposed updates in Sustainability Reporting Standards to Agriculture and the Power Sector
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Foundation, has released exposure drafts proposing targeted revisions to three sector-specific SASB standards covering Agricultural Products, Meat, Poultry & Dairy, and Electric Utilities & Power Generators.
• In agriculture, the proposed updates broaden the scope to include direct farming operations and introduce new disclosure areas such as food loss and waste, alongside land use and ecological impacts.
• For the meat, poultry and dairy sector, the revisions recalibrate existing metrics while introducing disclosures on product innovation and strengthening oversight of environmental and social dimensions across supply chains, replacing earlier, narrower frameworks.
• In the power and utilities sector, the proposed changes significantly expand reporting expectations, adding disclosures on ecological impacts, community relations including indigenous rights like workforce management, and supply chain practices.
Collectively, these updates reflect a clear shift toward more granular, value-chain-oriented sustainability reporting. The ISSB has opened the proposals for public consultation, with stakeholders invited to submit feedback by July 24, 2026.
South Korea Plans Mandatory Sustainability Reporting Beginning in 2028
South Korea's Financial Services Commission has unveiled a draft roadmap to introduce mandatory sustainability disclosures, signalling a phased yet decisive shift toward globally aligned reporting standards. The framework proposes that large listed companies begin climate-related disclosures in 2028, based on 2027 data, with coverage gradually extending to smaller firms. The roadmap is accompanied by the finalisation of Korea's Sustainability Reporting Standards by the Korean Accounting Standards Board, comprising.
Standard No. 1: General Requirements for Sustainability-related Financial Disclosures, and
Standard No. 2: Climate-related Disclosures, which correspond to the ISSB's IFRS S1 (sustainability-related) and IFRS S2 (climate-related) standards.
Implementation will initially apply to companies listed on the KOSPI Index with assets exceeding KRW 30 trillion (approx. USD 20.4 billion), underscoring a top-down approach targeting systemically significant entities. Notably, while ISSB allows a one-year exemption for Scope 3 emissions reporting, Korea proposes a three-year transition window, reflecting practical constraints in data readiness and value chain measurement. The roadmap also retains flexibility on third-party assurance, beginning as voluntary before potential phased mandating, and mirrors the ISSB's “climate-first” transition relief. The proposals are currently under public consultation, with finalisation expected by April 2026.
TECHNOLOGY
SoftBank secures $40 billion loan to boost OpenAI investments
Japan's SoftBank Group, led by founder Mr. Masayoshi Son, is deepening its strategic alignment with OpenAI. The group has previously committed $30 billion to OpenAI through its Vision Fund 2, underlining its long-term conviction in AI-led transformation. In its latest move, SoftBank has facilitated an unsecured bridge loan, maturing in March 2027, with participation from major global lenders including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and MUFG Bank. The structure reflects continued institutional confidence in large-scale AI investments despite evolving market risks. The partnership between SoftBank and OpenAI also extends to the ambitious Stargate Project, which aims to channel up to $500 billion over four years into building advanced AI infrastructure in the United States. Together, these developments signal a decisive push to secure leadership in next-generation AI ecosystems through capital, partnerships, and infrastructure at scale.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Namma Yatri goes global: Parent firm MTI acquired Dutch start-up Automicle to crack the European market
Moving Tech Innovations (MTI), the parent company of Namma Yatri and Yatri Sathi, has announced its acquisition of Netherlands-based mobility firm Automicle Holding BV, marking its formal entry into the European market. The move is strategically aimed at leveraging Automicle's capabilities in digital parking and public transport integration to localise MTI's model for European cities. At the core of this expansion is MTI's “city-first” zerocommission platform, which challenges the dominant highcommission, platform-centric models prevalent across Western mobility ecosystems. By integrating open digital infrastructure with public systems, the company seeks to align with Europe's strong focus on sustainable and integrated urban mobility. MTI's India experience provides the foundation for this global push. The company reports facilitating over 150 million trips, enabling more than 2,500 crore in driver earnings by eliminating C intermediary commissions. The Automicle acquisition, therefore, is not merely geographic expansion but a strategic test of whether India's open, driver-centric mobility frameworks can scale and compete in advanced global markets.
A consortium led by Blackstone is acquiring IPL's Royal Challengers Bengaluru for $1.78 billion
A high-profile consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group, alongside The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone (through its BXPE strategy), has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Royal Challengers Bengaluru from United Spirits Limited, a subsidiary of Diageo plc. The transaction, valued at INR 166.6 billion (approximately US $1.78 billion), includes both the men's Indian Premier League and the Women's Premier League franchises, making it one of the most significant deals in global sports franchise history. Under the new structure, Mr. Aryaman Vikram Birla will assume the role of Chairman, while Mr. Satyan Gajwani will serve as Vice Chairman.
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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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