Infosys to grow at slower pace in FY19; Salil Parekh plans to step up digital play

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Bengaluru: Infosys said revenue would grow below the pace forecast for the software industry, muting expectations for the first full year of
added. INKED DIGITAL DEALS WORTH OVER $3 BILLIONThe company will rely on artificial intelligence and automation to win digital deals,
reskill employees and hire more locals in markets such as US, Europe, and Australia. Infosys, acquired a US digital and consumer insights
agency WongDoody Holding Company, Inc
for $75 million as it looks to enhance capabilities to offer services to clients who are increasingly shifting their engagement with their
customers on smartphones. The company has forecast a revenue growth of 6-8%, which is below the 7-9 % growth charted by industry lobby
Nasscom for the software services sector, as Parekh focuses on building a digital business
It expects margins will be between 22-24% for the year ahead
guidance is in line with our expectations, while margin guidance disappoints a little bit considering its additional investments in digital
profits grew 11.3% to Rs 16,029 crore on revenue of Rs 70,522 crore, which grew 3 % over the previous year
In fiscal 2017, it reported profit of Rs 14,353 crore on revenue of Rs 68,484 crore. At 9 pm Indian Standard Time, American Depository
Shares of Infosys issued on Nasdaq had skidded by 8.2% compared to a 0.1% decline in the broader index. The Bengaluru-headquartered company
said it has written off $90 million in Panaya on a standalone basis, which is nearly half of the $200 million that it had paid to acquire
the Israeli software firm in February 2015
It acquired Kallidus, which is referred as Skava, for $120 million in April 2015. Both firms combined have been valued at Rs 2,060 crore
has also named Biocon chairman Kiran Mazumdar Shaw as the lead independent director of the board
It has dissolved its finance and investment committee, which was headed by independent board member Punita Kumar Sinha. Parekh told
reporters that Panaya had changed part of its market focus after the acquisition which contributed to the decision to put it up for sale
strategy. Allegations of wrongdoing in the Panaya deal, including questions over a hefty severance package for former CFO Rajiv Bansal,
Nilekani as non-executive chairman
Nilekani, who found no wrongdoing in the Panaya acquisition, picked Parekh, a former executive of Capgemini to head the company from January
the existing leadership at Infosys to build his business. In the three months as CEO, Parekh has engaged with employees and clients, and set
quarter profits grew 2.4% to Rs 3,690 crore and revenue by 5.6% to Rs 18,083 crore
Operating margins stood at 24.3%
Infosys had reported profit of Rs 3,603 crore on revenue of Rs 17,120 crore between October and December 2017. Infosys which has cash
reserves of $3.04 billion or Rs 19,818 crore, plans to return $2 billion or Rs 13,000 crore to shareholders by February next year, which
includes Rs 2,600 crore or $400 million as special dividend
Ranganath said the firm was generating higher margins in digital deals and is looking to sustain this over the coming months.