Brands
Infosys keeps its stock options open as pay and profits jostle
MUMBAI: If numbers talk, Infosys’ latest update spoke in more than one tone. Infosys has approved a fresh stock incentive grant for CEO and MD Salil Parekh, even as its December quarter showed pressure on margins despite steady revenue growth. Based on recommendations from the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, the board cleared time-based Restricted Stock Units with a market value of Rs 3 crore, to be granted from February 1, 2026, under the company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Compensation Plan. The number of RSUs will be determined by the market price prior to the grant date, with the exercise price fixed at the par value of Rs 5 per share.
Alongside this, Infosys allotted 6,914 equity shares of face value Rs 5 each following the exercise of stock units by employees. Of these, 70 shares were issued under the 2015 Incentive Compensation Plan and 6,844 shares under the Infosys Expanded Stock Ownership Program 2019. As a result, the company’s issued and subscribed share capital rose to Rs 2,027.34 crore, comprising 405.47 crore equity shares.
Financially, the December quarter painted a nuanced picture. Consolidated revenue came in at Rs 45,479 crore, up 8.9 percent year-on-year and 2.2 percent sequentially. Operating profit declined 6.3 percent year-on-year to Rs 8,355 crore, dragging operating margin down to 18.4 percent from 21.3 percent a year ago. Net profit after non-controlling interests stood at Rs 6,654 crore, down 2.2 percent year-on-year, while basic EPS slipped to Rs 16.17.
For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, Infosys reported revenue of Rs 1,32,248 crore, an 8.3 percent increase year-on-year. Net profit for the period rose 6.4 percent to Rs 20,939 crore, even as operating margin eased to 20 percent. Adjusted for the impact of newly notified Labour Codes, operating profit for the nine-month period stood at Rs 27,800 crore on a non-IFRS basis, with adjusted basic EPS at Rs 52.99.
The labour code notification resulted in a one-time adjustment of Rs 1,289 crore, reflecting higher gratuity and leave liabilities linked to past service costs. While the core business continues to grow, the quarter underlined a familiar industry reality: talent costs and regulatory changes are increasingly shaping the fine print behind headline growth.
Brands
Hocco crosses Rs 530cr revenue in two years
Sauce.vc-led Rs 100cr raise values ice cream brand at Rs 2,500cr pre-money as quick commerce hits 20 per cent of sales.
MUMBAI: Hocco has just scooped a seriously sweet milestone crossing the Rs 530 crore revenue mark in just two full years of operations. The fast-growing Indian ice cream and indulgence brand announced it has raised Rs 100 crore in fresh capital led by Sauce.vc. The round values the company at Rs 2,500 crore pre-money and underscores investor confidence in its rapid scale and distinctive India-first approach.
Founder Ankit Chona said the brand’s success stems from solving real Indian challenges extreme summer heat, fragmented cold chains and culturally rooted tastes. “In India, product development doesn’t end in the lab. It only ends when it survives the street,” he noted. This philosophy has produced viral hits such as Aamchi mango ice cream, BIX cake-sponge sandwiches, the Oh cone and culturally relevant collaborations like Haldiram’s Barfi and festive Modak specials.
Hocco currently operates manufacturing facilities in Ahmedabad and Panipat with a production capacity of approximately 3 lakh litres per day, running near full capacity in peak season. The fresh capital will help expand this to around 4.5 lakh litres per day.
Quick commerce has emerged as a major growth engine, now contributing ~20 per cent of overall business and growing nearly 2x year-on-year. The channel has boosted product discovery, increased consumption frequency and helped extend ice cream beyond its traditional seasonal limits.
Sauce.vc founder Manu Chandra said, “At Sauce, we believe that when you chance upon an outlier business, you double down with stronger conviction. We see Hocco as just that.”
With a strong innovation pipeline, deeper distribution and continued focus on cultural relevance, Hocco is entering its third year aiming to capture even more mind space and market share. In a category long dominated by legacy players, this young brand is proving that the coolest way to win is to build for India’s realities, one scoop, one street and one satisfied craving at a time.
