MAM
Law & Kenneth bags ING Life’s creative mandate
MUMBAI: Financial services company ING has awarded Law & Kenneth the creative duties for its life insurance arm, ING Life.
The media spend on this account is estimated to be in the range of Rs 180-200 million, though this doesn‘t include spends on events and promotions.
The Mumbai team will handle the account.
Rediffusion-Y&R was the incumbent on the business.
ING Life India executive vice-president marketing Mohit Goel said, “We have been through an ‘exciting and intensive‘ evaluation process, during the course of which we tested multiple advertising agencies on their strategic thinking and planning capabilities. The process followed by us was quite different from a typical evaluation of an agency, which is largely based on creative output and capability. We felt that Law & Kenneth‘s expertise in planning and strategy will add a lot of value to our business. We look forward to a fruitful and long-term relationship.”
Law & Kenneth chief executive officer and managing partner Anil Nair said, “Being chosen as the creative AoR (agency of record) by ING Life Insurance India is a matter of great honour and pride for us at the agency. ING Life India has big plans to achieve a leadership position in the life insurance business in India, and we are excited to partner it to fulfill that goal.”
JWT Bangalore has handled the creative mandate for this account in the recent past; the agency won the account in April 2008. The agency created a commercial for ING Bank that marked the brand‘s very first official campaign in India. Prior to 2008, the creative mandate for ING Bank (earlier known as ING Vysya Bank) was with Rediffusion.
Brands
HCLTech delivers Rs 24 dividend as revenue hits Rs 1.3 lakh crore
IT giant delivers solid growth for shareholders with a major payout despite navigating global market shifts.
MUMBAI: HCLTech has clearly found the right code for financial success, proving that its operational strategy is more than just a quick fix for the digital age. The technology titan’s board of directors officially signed off on their year-end deliberations on 21 April 2026, revealing a set of annual results that suggest the company’s growth trajectory remains well-buffered against economic volatility.
The primary highlight for investors is the declaration of an interim dividend of Rs 24 per equity share (on a face value of Rs 2) for the 2026–27 financial year. Shareholders will not have to wait long for the processing of these funds; the record date is set for 25 April 2026, with payments scheduled to be completed by 5 May 2026. This follows a total dividend of Rs 54 per share already distributed during the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The consolidated annual results show a company operating at a high frequency across its global markets. Total revenue surged to Rs 130,144 crore for the year ended 31 March 2026, a significant jump from the Rs 117,055 crore recorded the previous year. Net profit remained robust at Rs 16,652 crore for the full year, despite a slight dip from Rs 17,399 crore seen in 2025. Quarterly performance also reflected steady momentum, with Q4 revenue reaching Rs 33,981 crore and net profit at Rs 4,490 crore, compared to Rs 30,246 crore in revenue during the same period last year.
The company’s diverse service portfolio played a balanced role in this financial performance. IT and Business Services remained the primary engine, contributing Rs 96,094 crore to annual revenue. Engineering and R&D Services showed strong growth, climbing to Rs 22,056 crore for the year, while HCL Software maintained a consistent stream of Rs 11,994 crore.
It was not entirely smooth scrolling, as the company had to account for specific financial hurdles. HCLTech faced a one-time impact of Rs 956 crore due to the New Labour Codes. Additionally, total expenses for the year rose to Rs 108,616 crore. This was largely driven by employee benefits, which reached Rs 74,143 crore, a figure that reflects the ongoing high costs of securing top-tier tech talent in a competitive market.
On the standalone front, the company reported a profit before tax of Rs 10,024 crore for the year. However, the final quarter saw a standalone loss of Rs 900 crore, which the company attributed to a material Bilateral Advance Pricing Agreement (BAPA).
Despite the rise in costs, HCLTech’s financial “cache” remains substantial. Total assets grew to Rs 116,258 crore as of 31 March 2026, compared to Rs 105,544 crore a year earlier. The company’s cash and cash equivalents stood at a healthy Rs 8,195 crore at year-end, providing ample bandwidth for future investments and expansion.
As the global tech landscape continues to shift, HCLTech appears to have the right architecture to maintain its performance, ensuring that for its investors, the future remains highly user-friendly.
