Syntel reports Q2 revenue of $202.5m, up 13%

Highlights:

-- Q2 revenue of $202.5M, up 13% from year-ago quarter, and 7% sequentially

-- Q2 EPS of $1.14 per diluted share, up 10% from year-ago quarter, and 3% sequentially

-- Q2 cash & short term investments of $552M

-- Global Headcount of 22,866 on June 30, 2013, up 14% versus prior year

Syntel, Inc. (Nasdaq:SYNT), a global information technology services and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) firm, today announced financial results for the second quarter, ended June 30, 2013.

Second Quarter Financial Highlights

Syntel's revenue for the second quarter increased 13 percent to $202.5 million from $179.0 million in the prior-year period, and increased seven percent sequentially from $189.1 million in the first quarter of 2013. During the second 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 41.3 percent in the second quarter, compared to 41.3 percent in the prior-year period and 41.1 percent in the first quarter of 2013. Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses were 9.4 percent of revenue in the second quarter, compared to 10.6 percent in the prior-year period and 13.7 percent in the previous quarter.

Also read: Sify reports revenues of Rs 2,628m for Q1FY 2013-14

The second quarter income from operations was 31.9 percent of revenue as compared to 30.7 percent in the prior-year period and 27.4 percent in the first quarter. The sequential rise in operating margin primarily reflects the impact of currency-related balance sheet translations and the depreciation in the Indian rupee during the second quarter, which more than offset costs related to offshore wage increases, visas and higher billable headcount.

Net income for the second quarter was $47.5 million or $1.14 per diluted share, compared to $43.4 million or $1.04 per diluted share in the prior-year period and net income of $46.4 million or $1.11 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2013.

During Q2, Syntel spent $4.37 million in CAPEX, largely in support of campus infrastructure, and finished the quarter with cash and short-term investments of $552 million. The Company also added 687 net employees, ending the quarter with 22,866 employees globally.

Operational Highlights

"We executed well during the second quarter, crossing the $200 million revenue milestone for the first time," said Syntel CEO and President Prashant Ranade. "We are delivering these results by demonstrating value to our customers each day through our innovation and domain knowledge.

"In a time of rising complexity and market uncertainty, we remain committed to serving our customers," said Ranade. "Our model is flexible and we have the ability to evolve as the landscape changes across the industries and geographies we serve."

"The overall environment remains healthy and our prospects continue to improve. We are positioning ourselves for long-term success through client-driven investments in offerings that will help us deepen our customer relationships. The breadth of our pipeline continues to improve due to these investments and we look forward to helping our customers meet their future business and operational goals."

2013 Guidance

Based on current visibility levels and an exchange rate assumption of 59 Indian Rupees to the dollar, the Company currently expects 2013 revenue of $800 to $815 million and EPS in the range of $4.65 to $4.75.

Syntel to Host Conference Call

Syntel will discuss its second 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 July 25, 2013 by dialing (855) 859-2056 and entering "18532373". 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 June 30, 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, the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 or from other factors not currently anticipated.