Mumbai, Maharashtra, India and Troy, Michigan, United States, Saturday, April 20, 2013 — (Business Wire India) — Highlights:
— Q1 revenue of $189.1M, up 11% from year-ago quarter and 1% sequentially
— Q1 EPS of $1.11 per diluted share, up 14% from year-ago quarter
— Q1 cash & short term investments of $438M
— Global Headcount of 22,179 on March 31, 2013, up 13% versus prior year
Syntel, Inc. (Nasdaq: SYNT), a global information technology services and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) firm, today announced financial results for the first quarter, ended March 31, 2013.
First Quarter Financial Highlights
Syntel’s revenue for the first quarter increased 11 percent to $189.1 million from $170.7 million in the prior-year period, and increased one percent sequentially from $187.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. During the first quarter, Applications Outsourcing accounted for 76 percent of total revenue, with Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) at 16 percent, e-Business contributing six percent and TeamSourcing at two percent.
The Company’s gross margin was 41.1 percent in the first quarter, compared to 41.8 percent in the prior-year period and 45.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses were 13.7 percent of revenue in the first quarter, compared to 15.8 percent in the prior-year period and 15 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The first quarter income from operations was 27.4 percent of revenue as compared to 26.1 percent in the prior-year period and 30.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. The sequential reduction in operating margin reflects advanced hiring, compensation increases, the impact of currency-related balance sheet translations, and the appreciation in the Indian rupee, among other factors.
Net income for the first quarter was $46.4 million or $1.11 per diluted share, compared to $40.7 million or $0.98 per diluted share in the prior-year period and net income of $49.9 million or $1.19 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2012.
During Q1, Syntel spent $5.2 million in CAPEX, largely in support of campus infrastructure, and finished the quarter with cash and short-term investments of $438 million. The Company also added 772 net employees, ending the quarter with 22,179 employees globally.
Operational Highlights
“I am pleased with our revenue performance in this seasonally weak quarter,” said Syntel CEO and President Prashant Ranade. “We are investing in our capabilities and growing our ranks with the aim of enhancing our market position while we pursue our long-term strategic initiatives.”
“Customers are demanding solutions that reflect an informed understanding of their industry,” said Ranade. “Our business is evolving with our customers’ needs and the clear emphasis on capabilities vs. size plays to our particular strength.”
“During the first quarter, pipelines continued to build and we still think the overall environment is improved from what we saw a year ago. We are hiring in support of the opportunities we see and were pleased with the level of profitability we delivered this quarter despite the higher headcount. We remain focused on leveraging our strength in providing innovative solutions and a level of service that exceeds our customers’ expectations.”
2013 Guidance
Based on current visibility levels and an exchange rate assumption of 54 Indian Rupees to the dollar, the Company currently expects 2013 revenue of $785 to $815 million and EPS in the range of $4.25 to $4.50.
Syntel to Host Conference Call
Syntel will discuss its first quarter 2013 results today on a conference call at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). To listen to the call, please dial (877) 837-3915 in the US/Canada or (973) 638-3495 internationally. The call will also be broadcast live via the Internet at Syntel’s web site: investor.syntelinc.com . Please access the site at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register and download any necessary software. A replay will be available until April 25, 2013 by dialing (855) 859-2056 and entering “34742912”. International callers may dial (404) 537-3406 and enter the same passcode.
About Syntel
Syntel (NASDAQ:SYNT) is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) solutions spanning the entire lifecycle of business and information systems and processes. The Company is driven by its mission to create new opportunities for clients by harnessing the passion, talent and innovation of Syntel employees worldwide. Syntel leverages dedicated Centers of Excellence, a flexible Global Delivery Model, and a strong track record of building collaborative client partnerships to create sustainable business advantage for Global 2000 organizations. Syntel is assessed at SEI CMMi Level 5, and is ISO 27001 and ISO 9001:2008 certified. As of March 31, 2013, Syntel employed more than 22,000 people worldwide. To learn more, visit us at: www.syntelinc.com .
Safe Harbor Provision
This news release includes forward-looking statements, including those with respect to the future level of business for Syntel, Inc. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 or from other factors not currently anticipated.
