Healthtech

L&T’s ₹500 Crore ESG Bond Issue to Power Sustainability

New Capital Drive to Strengthen

Larsen & Toubro (L\&T), one of India’s top engineering and construction firms, is preparing to raise ₹500 crore by issuing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) bonds — a strategic move that highlights its growing focus on sustainable growth. The funds will be directed toward green and socially responsible projects, reinforcing L\&T’s dedication to long-term ESG goals.

Leveraging ESG-Driven Capital

ESG bonds are a class of debt instruments that enable organizations to attract capital for projects with positive environmental or societal outcomes. Through this ₹500 crore issuance, L\&T aims to tap into a growing base of investors who prioritize responsible investing. The proceeds will be deployed across projects that adhere to ESG principles, covering areas such as renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and improved energy efficiency.

Building on Past Sustainability Efforts

This bond offering adds to L\&T’s already solid track record of integrating ESG into its financial strategy. The company had previously secured notable sustainability-linked loans: a \$107 million facility with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and a \$150 million loan with Bank of America, which L\&T transitioned into a sustainability-linked loan. These financial arrangements tie the loan terms to measurable sustainability targets, such as lowering greenhouse gas emissions and reducing water usage intensity.

Deepening Investments in Green Ventures

Recently, the company approved an investment of ₹506 crore into L\&T Energy Green Tech Limited, a subsidiary dedicated to renewable energy. This initiative aims to consolidate and expand L\&T’s presence in clean energy markets, including the development of green hydrogen infrastructure and associated value chains.

Scaling Up Renewable Energy Projects

Further demonstrating its green credentials, L\&T has secured large contracts in the Middle East to build two massive solar photovoltaic plants with a combined capacity of 3.5 gigawatts. Valued between ₹10,000 crore and ₹15,000 crore, these projects significantly enhance L\&T’s international renewable energy portfolio and position the company as a major player in global solar power construction.

In Line with Broader Sustainability Trends

L\&T’s push for ESG financing aligns well with both national and global trends. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recognized the importance of green bonds in helping Indian corporations raise funds for sustainability-focused initiatives. L\&T’s ESG bond issuance thus contributes to a broader effort to channel capital into green and socially responsible enterprises, in line with India’s climate action commitments and global environmental goals.

Summary:

Larsen & Toubro’s plan to raise ₹500 crore via ESG bonds marks a strong step toward reinforcing its environmental and social commitments. The funds will fuel a range of sustainability-driven projects, further advancing the company’s position as a responsible corporate leader. Combined with previous sustainability-linked loans and ongoing investments in renewable energy, this new ESG-focused capital drive will help L\&T contribute meaningfully to India’s — and the world’s — sustainable future.

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Cognizant Secures $1B Deal with Top Healthcare Firm!

Cognizant has reportedly secured a major $1 billion contract, likely extending its long-term collaboration with UnitedHealth Group, highlighting its extensive expertise in the healthcare IT sector.

Summary:
Cognizant has reportedly secured a $1 billion deal from a prominent US-based healthcare company, with insiders pointing to UnitedHealth Group as the likely client. The multi-year deal is seen as a reaffirmation of Cognizant’s strategic focus on healthcare technology at a time when global IT firms are navigating margin pressures and heightened competition. The agreement highlights Cognizant’s continued strength in healthcare and its growing relevance in delivering AI-driven digital transformation solutions.

Cognizant Bags $1 Billion Deal from US Healthcare Major, Likely UnitedHealth Group
New Delhi, June 2025 – Global IT services and consulting firm Cognizant Technology Solutions has reportedly won a $1 billion deal from a major US-based healthcare company, according to people familiar with the development. While the company has not officially disclosed the client’s identity, multiple analysts and sources have pointed toward a likely renewal or expansion of its engagement with UnitedHealth Group (UHG), one of the biggest health insurance companies in the United States.
This deal, believed to span several years, represents a critical win for Cognizant as it seeks to stabilize and strengthen its revenue base in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving digital transformation market.

A Strategic Comeback in Healthcare IT
Cognizant has long had a strategic focus on the healthcare vertical, contributing nearly one-third of its total global revenue. A renewed billion-dollar deal from a healthcare behemoth such as UHG not only underscores the company’s deep expertise in payer-provider IT solutions but also signals client confidence in Cognizant’s ability to deliver scalable, AI-integrated platforms across domains such as claims processing, electronic health records (EHR), and patient data security.
The development is being viewed as a positive signal to investors and analysts, especially after a series of client losses and executive exits over the past couple of years that had raised concerns about Cognizant’s long-term positioning.

What the Deal Likely Entails
While details of the deal remain confidential, industry watchers speculate that the engagement includes:
Modernization of legacy healthcare systems
AI and machine learning integration for claims analytics and fraud detection
Expansion of cloud-based platforms for scalable healthcare solutions
Enhanced data governance and cybersecurity services
Support for regulatory compliance and interoperability initiatives, including HL7 and FHIR standards
This comes at a time when healthcare companies in the US are accelerating their digital journeys in the wake of increased regulatory scrutiny, data breaches, and patient expectations for better digital engagement.

Analyst View: A Turnaround Moment
According to analysts tracking the IT services sector, this $1 billion deal could be a turning point for Cognizant. Over the past two years, the company has been working to regain lost ground amid rising competition from Infosys, TCS, Accenture, and newer digital-native firms.
“This win shows that Cognizant is still a force to reckon with in the healthcare domain. The size and scope of the deal reaffirm client trust and may help the company recover market share lost in recent years,” said an IT services analyst at a leading brokerage firm.
The deal could also support double-digit growth in the healthcare vertical over the next few years and help improve margins through managed services and automation.

CEO’s Strategic Repositioning
Ever since Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S. took charge, the company has been undergoing an internal transformation, with a focus on AI-led delivery models, cloud-first strategies, and decentralized decision-making. This deal validates those efforts and reflects the growing alignment between Cognizant’s capabilities and client needs in the digital era.
Under Ravi Kumar’s leadership, the firm has also made strategic acquisitions to bolster its cloud, data engineering, and healthcare consulting practices, indicating that the billion-dollar deal is not just a financial win but also a validation of Cognizant’s reshaped value proposition.

UHG-Cognizant: A Long-standing Relationship
UnitedHealth Group, the likely client behind this deal, has been associated with Cognizant for more than a decade. In previous years, the companies have collaborated on initiatives involving IT infrastructure, digital claims processing, and consumer engagement platforms.
A renewal of this engagement at such a significant scale not only reflects operational trust but also shows a preference for continuity and domain specialization over switching vendors. It is also indicative of the growing complexity of healthcare IT systems that require strategic partners rather than transactional vendors.

Competitive Landscape and What Lies Ahead
This win comes in the backdrop of increasing competition within the healthcare IT services segment, which has witnessed strong deal activity from players like TCS (with CVS Health), Infosys (with Cigna), and Accenture (with Kaiser Permanente).
By clinching this deal, Cognizant has not only secured a robust revenue pipeline but also signaled its intent to remain at the forefront of healthcare innovation, especially as Generative AI, predictive analytics, and hyper-personalized healthcare solutions become key differentiators in the space.

Conclusion: Reaffirmation of Trust and Transformation Potential
The $1 billion deal is a clear reaffirmation of Cognizant’s ability to deliver high-impact, enterprise-scale solutions for healthcare clients navigating regulatory pressure, digital disruption, and rising costs. It also reestablishes the company as a trusted transformation partner with deep domain knowledge and execution capabilities.
With this, Cognizant gains not just a financial edge but a strategic uplift, positioning itself as a leader in healthcare technology modernization in North America and beyond.

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