Corporate Trends
Multibillion-dollar deals fuel pickup in India's mergers & acquisitions activity
Mergers and acquisitions in India are increasing. Cross-border deals and private equity funds are driving this growth. M&A volume has reached nearly $41 billion in 2025. Several major acquisitions have occurred recently, including Tata Motors' acquisition of Iveco Group's business. Private equity activity is at its highest. Local players are also increasingly active in M&A.
'Ek teer kai nishaan!': From combating Trump’s tariffs to inflation — why Kotak AMC's Nilesh Shah says GST 2.0 hits many targets
Shah also underlined the urgency behind the Council’s push, pointing out that “completing two days GST council meeting in one day does show the urgency.” At the same time, he stressed the need for vigilance against misuse. “While the leakages and fraud of GST needs to be dealt with iron hand, process improvement should be a continuous affair with feedback loop,” he wrote.
Anand Mahindra calls for ‘more reforms to unleash consumption and investment’ after GST rate cuts
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled major changes to the GST structure, reducing taxes on a range of items spanning essentials, automobiles, farm inputs and electronic goods. Branded as the “Next-Gen GST Reform,” the decision was pitched as a Diwali gift that would lower household expenses, ease business costs and stimulate wider economic activity.
GST reforms to provide relief to families, ease compliance for businesses: India Inc
Industry bodies said the clarity will ease compliance, reduce litigation, and give businesses and consumers much-needed predictability. The GST Council on Wednesday approved a two-tier rate structure of 5 and 18 per cent, which will be implemented from September 22.
Digital competition bill: Companies may be allowed to contest 'Big Tech' tag to stay safe from preventive action
The Centre is considering a mechanism for large companies to challenge their designation as Systemically Significant Digital Enterprises (SSDEs) under the proposed digital competition law, pending a market study. This follows concerns raised by digital players and a parliamentary panel about the potential for inadvertently capturing fast-growing domestic firms.
Invenia expects to grow revenue to Rs 2,000 crore in three years: Vice Chairman
Invenia, a digital infrastructure and IT services firm, anticipates a 40% revenue increase. The company projects revenue to reach Rs 2,000 crore in three years. This growth will be fueled by data center connectivity and government projects. Invenia's order book is strong, valued at Rs 4,250 crore. The company will focus on system integration, cybersecurity, and managed services.
Voice AI moves beyond scripts as Indian firms tap multilingual bots
AI-powered voice assistants are transforming customer interactions across India, handling queries in multiple languages with unprecedented accuracy. Companies like MakeMyTrip and Meesho are leveraging large language models to provide context-aware and personalized experiences. This shift is particularly impactful in tier-2 and tier-3 towns, where vernacular adoption is driving growth.
The great middle squeeze — why brands serving the mid-tier are collapsing
The middle class is facing economic pressures, leading to a collapse of the center in various sectors like politics and sports. Businesses catering to the middle are struggling due to high costs and lack of differentiation. Successful brands now focus on either mass appeal or niche markets, requiring a fundamental rethinking of business models to thrive in this evolving landscape.
Fresh registrations of companies surge despite tariff shock
India saw a rise in company and LLP registrations in August. Investor confidence remains strong despite US tariffs. Govt officials are optimistic about India's growth. Reforms in GST are expected to boost consumption. India's GDP growth in June quarter is encouraging. Free trade agreement with the UK and ongoing trade negotiations are positives.
Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance plans $2 billion asset-backed securities deal
Reliance, led by Mukesh Ambani, plans to raise approximately 180 billion rupees ($2 billion) through asset-backed securities, potentially marking one of India's largest deals this year. The securities, backed by loans from infrastructure and telecom divisions, will mature in three to five years and are being arranged by Barclays Plc.
Must Watch
From hackathons to AI: Key highlights from Odoo Community Days 2025
Record-breaking event demonstrates unprecedented appetite for business automation among Indian enterprises
Girish Tanti on Wind Energy and India’s Role in Green Innovation | ET World Leaders Forum 2025
“The build-up which has happened till now is now reaching a stage where… hitting the 100 gigawatt mark by 2030 looks almost certain for wind.”At the ET World Leaders Forum 2025, Girish Tanti, Co-founder and Vice-Chairman of Suzlon Group, reflects on India’s wind energy growth story, skill development in clean-tech, and the country’s global leadership in the renewable landscape.From aligning wind power generation with India’s consumption patterns to building strong skill development programmes for green jobs of tomorrow, Tanti highlights how India is driving one of the most cost-efficient and innovative clean-tech transitions in the world.
Gautam Hari Singhania on AI and the Evolution of Raymond | ET World Leaders Forum 2025
“AI today is the buzzword. Everybody is talking about AI… Traditionally, all our clothes were designed by designers. We’re moving it all to IT technicians because data for design is available on the internet.” In this exclusive conversation at the ET World Leaders Forum 2025, Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director of Raymond, shares how the 100-year-old brand embraces technology and artificial intelligence to enhance forecasting, improve production efficiency, and adapt to younger consumer bases.From redefining product development across 3,000 price points to building the largest tailoring ecosystem in India, Singhania explains Raymond’s journey of innovation—balancing legacy with the demands of a new, aspirational generation through “mass customisation” and more.
For Reliance's billionaire boss Mukesh Ambani, it’s all hands on deck
Mukesh Ambani is navigating Reliance Industries through geopolitical challenges, including strained US-India relations due to discounted Russian oil processing. To maintain political influence and secure US capital and technology, Ambani is relying on his family and global tech leaders.
Ambani’s Reliance a big gainer from China’s push to curb price wars, Morgan Stanley says
Reliance Industries is poised to significantly benefit from China's efforts to curb overcapacity in key sectors and its own internal restructuring. Morgan Stanley highlights that Reliance's strategic moves in solar energy and consumer businesses, coupled with China's 'anti-involution' policies, could substantially boost its earnings and net asset value.
Rise of Generative Engine Optimisation: The future of digital marketing in an AI-driven world
The rise of AI-powered search is prompting a surge in Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) training, as traditional SEO methods become less effective. Digital marketing professionals are increasingly seeking GEO skills to adapt to platforms like ChatGPT and Google's AI Overviews.
