WNS (Holdings) Limited (WNS) (NYSE: WNS), a leading provider of
global Business Process Management (BPM) solutions, today announced
results for the fiscal 2024 third quarter ended December 31,
2023.
Highlights – Fiscal 2024 Third Quarter:
GAAP
Financials
- Revenue of $326.2 million, up 6.3% from $306.9 million in Q3
of last year and down 2.3% from $333.9 million last
quarter
- Profit of $39.6 million, compared to $34.7 million in Q3 of
last year and $57.8 million last quarter
- Diluted earnings per share of $0.81, compared to $0.69 in Q3
of last year and $1.16 last quarter
Non-GAAP
Financial Measures*
- Revenue less repair payments of $315.9 million, up 7.8% from
$292.9 million in Q3 of last year and down 2.8% from $325.0 million
last quarter
- Adjusted Net Income (ANI) of $58.2 million, compared to
$50.6 million in Q3 of last year and $54.1 million last
quarter
- Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.18, compared to
$1.01 in Q3 of last year and $1.09 last quarter
Other
Metrics
- Added 8 new clients in the quarter, expanded 32 existing
relationships
- Days sales outstanding (DSO) at 35 days
- Global headcount of 60,652 as of December 31, 2023
Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures discussed
below to our GAAP operating results are included at the end of this
release. See also “About Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
Revenue in the third quarter was $326.2 million, representing a
6.3% increase versus Q3 of last year and a 2.3% decrease from the
previous quarter. Revenue less repair payments* in the third
quarter was $315.9 million, an increase of 7.8% year-over-year and
2.8% decline sequentially. Excluding exchange rate impacts,
constant currency revenue less repair payments* in the fiscal third
quarter was up 5.9% versus Q3 of last year and down 2.3%
sequentially. Year-over-year, Q3 revenue improved as a result of
new client additions, the expansion of existing relationships,
fiscal 2023 acquisitions, and favorable currency movements. These
benefits were partially offset by the ramp-down of a large
HealthCare process, the offshore delivery transition of a large
internet client, and volume reductions with certain clients.
Sequentially, headwinds from the offshore delivery transition of a
large internet client, volume reductions with certain clients, and
unfavorable currency movements more than offset growth driven by
demand for cost-reduction focused initiatives.
Profit in the fiscal third quarter was $39.6 million, as
compared to $34.7 million in Q3 of last year and $57.8 million in
the previous quarter. Year-over-year, profit increased as a result
of revenue growth, improved productivity, a one-time tax benefit of
$9.5 million resulting from the reversal of a deferred tax
liability on intangibles, and favorable impacts from currency
movements. These benefits were partially offset by increases in
wages, return-to-office costs, amortization of intangibles, and net
interest expense. Sequentially, Q3 profit decreased as a result of
Q2 benefits received from the reversal of a provision for
contingent acquisition consideration, higher SG&A expenses
driven by Q2 provision reversals for performance incentives and bad
debt, and lower revenue. These headwinds were partially offset by
the $9.5 million one-time tax benefit and lower net interest
expense.
Adjusted net income (ANI)* in Q3 was $58.2 million, as compared
to $50.6 million in Q3 of last year and $54.1 million in the
previous quarter. Explanations for the ANI* movements on a
year-over-year and sequential basis are the same as described for
GAAP profit above with the exception of amortization of intangible
expenses, share-based compensation expense, acquisition-related
items, and associated tax impacts which are excluded from ANI*.
From a balance sheet perspective, WNS ended Q3 with $260.4
million in cash and investments and $177.4 million in debt. In Q3,
the company generated $73.7 million in cash from operations,
incurred $10.3 million in capital expenditures, and repaid $20.2
million in debt. WNS also repurchased 1,000,000 ADSs at an average
price of $58.13, impacting Q3 cash by $58.1 million. Third quarter
days sales outstanding were 35 days, as compared to 34 days
reported in Q3 of last year and 35 days in the previous
quarter.
“In the fiscal third quarter, WNS’ grew our year-over-year
constant currency revenue less repair payments* by 6% and expanded
adjusted diluted earnings per share* by 18%,” said Keshav Murugesh,
WNS’ Chief Executive Officer. “Despite the weak macro, the company
continues to expect solid financial performance in fiscal 2024 with
the midpoint of our guidance reflecting double-digit top line*
growth and industry-leading adjusted operating margin*. WNS is
aggressively investing for the future and is making steady progress
in our ability to design, build, and run solutions leveraging
cutting-edge technologies including AI and Generative AI. We remain
committed to driving strong operational and financial execution,
and generating long-term, sustainable business value for all of our
stakeholders.”
WNS Adds New York, London Global
Headquarters
WNS formally announced today that the company has added global
headquarters locations in both New York and London. The addition of
these headquarters to the Mumbai location supports the company’s
decentralization of senior leadership and decision-making as
highlighted by our organizational structure change announced in
April, 2023. These new headquarters also reflect the evolution of
the company over the past 25 years including the geographic
diversification of the company’s revenue mix and delivery
footprint.
Fiscal 2024 Guidance
WNS is updating guidance for the fiscal year ending March 31,
2024, as follows:
- Revenue less repair payments* is expected to be between $1,270
million and $1,292 million, up from $1,162.0 million in fiscal
2023. Guidance assumes an average GBP to USD exchange rate of 1.27
for the remainder of fiscal 2024.
- ANI* is expected to range between $212 million and $218 million
versus $196.1 million in fiscal 2023. Guidance assumes an average
USD to INR exchange rate of 83.3 for the remainder of fiscal
2024.
- Based on a diluted share count of 49.6 million shares, the
company expects fiscal 2024 adjusted diluted earnings per share* to
be in the range of $4.27 to $4.39 versus $3.86 in fiscal 2023.
“The company has updated our forecast for fiscal 2024 based on
current visibility levels and exchange rates,” said Sanjay Puria,
WNS’ Chief Financial Officer. “Our guidance for the full year
reflects growth in revenue less repair payments* of 9% to 11% on
both a reported* and constant currency* basis. The guidance
includes expected healthy demand for core process automation and
cost-reduction based solutions, and ongoing softness in transaction
volumes from certain clients and discretionary project-based
revenues. We currently have over 99% visibility to the midpoint of
the revenue range. For the year, we continue to expect capital
expenditures of up to $60 million.”
WNS Board Approves ADS to Share
Exchange, Reporting Change
The WNS Board has granted approval for the company to move
forward with plans to terminate its ADS program, exchange
outstanding ADSs for its ordinary shares, and apply for the
ordinary shares to be listed on the NYSE. WNS intends to complete
this exercise prior to the end of fiscal Q1’25. In addition, the
Board has granted approval for the company to shift from reporting
on the forms available to foreign private issuers (FPIs) and filing
our financial statements with the SEC under IFRS to voluntarily
file on US domestic issuer forms and file our financial statements
under US GAAP. WNS intends to complete this change prior to the end
of fiscal Q2’25. The company believes these actions are in the
long-term best interest of all WNS stakeholders and will improve
the company’s ability to compete for capital, reduce share price
volatility, and enhance governance.
_______________________ * See “About Non-GAAP Financial
Measures” and the reconciliations of the historical non-GAAP
financial measures to our GAAP operating results at the end of this
release.
Conference Call
WNS will host a conference call on January 18, 2024, at 8:00 am
(Eastern) to discuss the company's quarterly results. To access the
call in “listen-only” mode, please join live via the company’s
investor relations website at ir.wns.com. For call participants,
please register using this online form to receive your dial-in
number and unique PIN/passcode which can be used to access the
call. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the company
website at ir.wns.com.
About WNS
WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS) is a leading Business Process
Management (BPM) company. WNS combines deep industry knowledge with
technology, analytics, and process expertise to co-create
innovative, digitally led transformational solutions with over 600
clients across various industries. WNS delivers an entire spectrum
of BPM solutions including industry-specific offerings, customer
experience services, finance and accounting, human resources,
procurement, and research and analytics to re-imagine the digital
future of businesses. As of December 31, 2023, WNS had 60,652
professionals across 66 delivery centers worldwide including
facilities in Canada, China, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the
United Kingdom, and the United States. For more information, visit
www.wns.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in
the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on
our current expectations and assumptions about our Company and our
industry. Generally, these forward-looking statements may be
identified by the use of terminology such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “seek,” “should”
and similar expressions. These statements include, among other
things, expressed or implied forward-looking statements relating to
discussions of our strategic initiatives and the expected resulting
benefits, our growth opportunities, industry environment, our
expectations concerning our future financial performance and growth
potential, including our fiscal 2024 guidance, estimated capital
expenditures, expected foreign currency exchange rates, and our
plans to exchange outstanding ADSs for our ordinary shares and
reporting change discussed above and the expected resulting
benefits. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and
uncertainties include but are not limited to worldwide economic and
business conditions, our dependence on a limited number of clients
in a limited number of industries; the impact of the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic on our and our clients’ business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows; currency
fluctuations; political or economic instability in the
jurisdictions where we have operations; regulatory, legislative and
judicial developments; increasing competition in the BPM industry;
technological innovation; our liability arising from fraud or
unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client and
customer data; telecommunications or technology disruptions; our
ability to attract and retain clients; negative public reaction in
the US or the UK to offshore outsourcing; our ability to collect
our receivables from, or bill our unbilled services to our clients;
our ability to expand our business or effectively manage growth;
our ability to hire and retain enough sufficiently trained
employees to support our operations; the effects of our different
pricing strategies or those of our competitors; our ability to
successfully consummate, integrate and achieve accretive benefits
from our strategic acquisitions (including Vuram, OptiBuy, and The
Smart Cube), and to successfully grow our revenue and expand our
service offerings and market share; future regulatory actions and
conditions in our operating areas; and our ability to manage the
impact of climate change on our business. These and other factors
are more fully discussed in our most recent annual report on Form
20-F and subsequent reports on Form 6-K filed with or furnished to
the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which are available
at www.sec.gov. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not
undertake to update any forward-looking statements to reflect
future events or circumstances.
References to “$” and “USD” refer to the United States dollars,
the legal currency of the United States; references to “GBP” refer
to the British pound, the legal currency of Britain; and references
to “INR” refer to Indian Rupees, the legal currency of India.
References to GAAP refers to International Financial Reporting
Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards
Board (IFRS).
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited, amounts in
millions, except share and per share data)
Three months ended
Dec 31,
2023
Dec 31,
2022
Sep 30,
2023
Revenue
$
326.2
$
306.9
$
333.9
Cost of revenue
208.9
198.1
210.2
Gross profit
117.3
108.9
123.7
Operating expenses:
Selling and marketing expenses
20.3
16.2
18.8
General and administrative expenses
45.6
42.2
46.5
Foreign exchange (gain) / loss, net
0.5
0.1
(0.0
)
Amortization of intangible assets
8.6
6.5
8.7
Operating profit
42.3
43.9
49.7
Other income, net
(4.1
)
(3.6
)
(25.6
)
Finance expense
7.1
5.0
7.5
Profit before income taxes
39.3
42.6
67.9
Income tax expense
(0.4
)
7.9
10.0
Profit after tax
$
39.6
$
34.7
$
57.8
Earnings per share of ordinary share
Basic
$
0.84
$
0.72
$
1.22
Diluted
$
0.81
$
0.69
$
1.16
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(Unaudited, amounts in
millions, except share and per share data)
As at Dec 31, 2023
As at Mar 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
94.6
$
127.9
Investments
165.5
101.1
Trade receivables, net
127.8
113.1
Unbilled revenue
104.5
99.8
Funds held for clients
7.1
9.4
Derivative assets
9.0
6.4
Contract assets
15.0
12.6
Prepayments and other current assets
29.7
33.9
Total current assets
553.2
504.1
Non-current assets:
Goodwill
357.9
353.6
Intangible assets
160.6
179.2
Property and equipment
71.4
62.4
Right-of-use assets
172.3
175.5
Derivative assets
2.7
2.7
Investments
0.3
75.9
Contract assets
54.1
54.7
Deferred tax assets
49.3
46.7
Other non-current assets
58.5
49.6
Total non-current assets
927.0
1,000.4
TOTAL ASSETS
$
1,480.2
$
1,504.4
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Trade payables
$
21.4
$
25.4
Provisions and accrued expenses
33.3
41.8
Derivative liabilities
6.1
7.5
Pension and other employee obligations
94.9
107.9
Short term line of credit
29.6
—
Current portion of long-term debt
36.8
36.1
Contract liabilities
14.4
15.7
Current taxes payable
12.0
2.2
Lease liabilities
28.0
26.6
Other liabilities
26.6
40.7
Total current liabilities
303.2
303.8
Non-current liabilities:
Derivative liabilities
1.7
2.4
Pension and other employee obligations
22.2
19.5
Long-term debt
111.0
137.3
Contract liabilities
12.4
9.7
Other non-current liabilities
12.7
20.8
Lease liabilities
169.4
172.3
Deferred tax liabilities
25.6
37.3
Total non-current liabilities
355.0
399.5
TOTAL LIABILITIES
$
658.2
$
703.3
Shareholders' equity:
Share capital (ordinary shares $0.16 (10
pence) par value, authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued: 47,809,915
shares and 48,360,817 shares; each as at December 31, 2023 and
March 31, 2023, respectively)
7.6
7.7
Share premium
35.0
81.1
Retained earnings
1,079.8
951.6
Other reserves
6.2
6.8
Other components of equity
(248.5
)
(246.0
)
Total shareholders’ equity including
shares held in treasury
$
880.1
$
801.1
Less: 1,000,000 shares as at December 31,
2023 and Nil shares as at March 31, 2023, held in treasury, at
cost
(58.1
)
—
Total shareholders’ equity
$
822.0
$
801.1
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
1,480.2
$
1,504.4
WNS Segment Reporting
Effective April 1, 2023, WNS has adopted a new organizational
structure featuring four strategic business units (“SBUs”), each
headed by a chief business officer (“CBO”). Under the new
organizational structure, WNS has combined our existing verticals
into the four SBUs (as set out below). The new organizational
structure is expected to help drive improved outcomes for our
global clients and enable our company to better drive business
synergies, enhance scalability, generate operating leverage, and
create organizational depth. To align with this new structure, WNS
has changed our segments for financial statement reporting
purposes. Reportable segments are as follows:
1. TSLU (comprising of Travel, Shipping/Logistics and Utilities
verticals) 2. MRHP (comprising of Manufacturing/Retail/Consumer,
Hi-tech/Professional Services and Procurement verticals) 3. HCLS
(comprising of Healthcare vertical, which we have renamed as our
Healthcare/Life Sciences vertical) 4. BFSI (comprising of
Banking/Financial Services and Insurance verticals)
About Non-GAAP Financial
Measures
The financial information in this release includes certain
non-GAAP financial measures that we believe more accurately reflect
our core operating performance. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP
financial measures to our GAAP operating results are included
below. A more detailed discussion of our GAAP results is contained
in “Part I –Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”
in our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on May 16,
2023.
Revenue less repair payments is a non-GAAP financial measure
that is calculated as (a) revenue less (b) in our BFSI segment,
payments to repair centers for “fault” repair cases where WNS acts
as the principal in its dealings with the third party repair
centers and its clients. WNS believes that revenue less repair
payments for “fault” repairs reflects more accurately the value
addition of the business process management services that it
directly provides to its clients. For more details, please see the
discussion in “Part I – Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and
Prospects – Overview” in our annual report on Form 20-F filed with
the SEC on May 16, 2023.
Constant currency revenue less repair payments is a non-GAAP
financial measure. We present constant currency revenue less repair
payments so that revenue less repair payments may be viewed without
the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, thereby
facilitating period-to-period comparisons of business performance.
Constant currency revenue less repair payments is presented by
recalculating prior period’s revenue less repair payments
denominated in currencies other than in US dollars using the
foreign exchange rate used for the latest period, without taking
into account the impact of hedging gains/losses. Our non-US dollar
denominated revenues include, but are not limited to, revenues
denominated in pound sterling, South African rand, Australian
dollar and Euro.
WNS also presents or discusses (1) adjusted operating margin,
which refers to adjusted operating profit (calculated as operating
profit / (loss) excluding goodwill impairment, share-based
compensation expense, acquisition-related expenses or benefits and
amortization of intangible assets) as a percentage of revenue less
repair payments, (2) ANI, which is calculated as profit excluding
goodwill impairment, share-based compensation expense,
acquisition-related expenses or benefits and amortization of
intangible assets and including the tax effect thereon, (3)
Adjusted net income margin, which refers to ANI as a percentage of
revenue less repair payments, (4) net cash, which refers to cash
and cash equivalents plus investments less long-term debt
(including the current portion and short term) and other non-GAAP
financial measures included in this release as supplemental
measures of its performance. Acquisition-related expenses or
benefits consists of transaction costs, integration expenses,
employment-linked earn-out as part of deferred consideration and
changes in the fair value of contingent consideration including the
impact of present value thereon. WNS presents these non-GAAP
financial measures because it believes they assist investors in
comparing its performance across reporting periods on a consistent
basis by excluding items that are non-recurring in nature and those
it believes are not indicative of its core operating performance.
In addition, it uses these non-GAAP financial measures (i) to
evaluate the effectiveness of its business strategies and (ii)
(with certain adjustments) as a factor in evaluating management’s
performance when determining incentive compensation. WNS is
excluding acquisition-related expenses as described above with
effect from fiscal 2023 second quarter.
These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered
in isolation or as a substitute for WNS’ financial results prepared
in accordance with IFRS.
The company is not able to provide our forward-looking GAAP
revenue, profit and earnings per share without unreasonable efforts
for a number of reasons, including our inability to predict with a
reasonable degree of certainty the payments to repair centers, our
future share-based compensation expense under IFRS 2 (Share Based
payments), amortization of intangibles and acquisition-related
expenses or benefits associated with future acquisitions, goodwill
impairment and currency fluctuations. As a result, any attempt to
provide a reconciliation of the forward-looking GAAP financial
measures (revenue, profit, earnings per share) to our
forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures (revenue less repair
payments*, ANI* and Adjusted diluted earnings per share*,
respectively) would imply a degree of likelihood that we do not
believe is reasonable.
Reconciliation of revenue (GAAP) to revenue less repair
payments (non-GAAP) and constant currency revenue less repair
payments (non-GAAP)
Three months ended
Three months ended Dec 31,
2023 compared to
Dec 31,
2023
Dec 31,
2022
Sep 30,
2023
Dec 31,
2022
Sep 30, 2023
(Amounts in millions)
(% growth)
Revenue (GAAP)
$
326.2
$
306.9
$
333.9
6.3
%
(2.3
%)
Less: Payments to repair centers
10.3
14.0
8.9
(26.4
%)
15.5
%
Revenue less repair payments
(non-GAAP)
$
315.9
$
292.9
$
325.0
7.8
%
(2.8
%)
Exchange rate impact
1.1
6.3
(0.5
)
Constant currency revenue less repair
payments (non-GAAP)
$
317.0
$
299.3
$
324.5
5.9
%
(2.3
%)
Reconciliation of operating profit (GAAP to non-GAAP)
Three months ended
Dec 31,
2023
Dec 31,
2022
Sep 30,
2023
(Amounts in millions)
Operating profit (GAAP)
$
42.3
$
43.9
$
49.7
Add: Share-based compensation expense
13.1
11.7
13.4
Add: Amortization of intangible assets
8.6
6.5
8.7
Add: Acquisition-related expenses
1.0
2.1
1.1
Adjusted operating profit (non-GAAP)
$
65.0
$
64.3
$
72.9
Operating profit as a percentage of
revenue (GAAP)
13.0
%
14.3
%
14.9
%
Adjusted operating profit as a percentage
of revenue less repair payments (non-GAAP)
20.6
%
21.9
%
22.4
%
Reconciliation of profit (GAAP) to ANI (non-GAAP)
Three months ended
Dec 31,
2023
Dec 31,
2022
Sep 30,
2023
(Amounts in millions)
Profit (GAAP)
$
39.6
$
34.7
$
57.8
Add: Share-based compensation expense
13.1
11.7
13.4
Add: Amortization of intangible assets
8.6
6.5
8.7
Add: Acquisition-related expenses /
(benefits), net(1)
1.2
2.3
(20.5
)
Less: Tax impact on share-based
compensation expense(2)
(2.3
)
(3.0
)
(3.1
)
Less: Tax impact on amortization of
intangible assets(2)
(2.1
)
(1.5
)
(2.1
)
Less: Tax impact on acquisition related
expenses (2)
0.0
(0.0
)
(0.0
)
Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP)
$
58.2
$
50.6
$
54.1
Profit after tax as a percentage of
revenue (GAAP)
12.2
%
11.3
%
17.3
%
Adjusted net income as a percentage of
revenue less repair payments (non-GAAP)
18.4
%
17.3
%
16.6
%
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
(non-GAAP)
$
1.18
$
1.01
$
1.09
(1) Acquisition related expenses /
(benefits) includes reversal of contingent consideration related to
acquisition of Vuram.
(2) The company applies GAAP methodologies
in computing the tax impact on its non-GAAP ANI adjustments
(including amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related
expenses and share-based compensation expense). The company’s
non-GAAP tax expense is generally higher than its GAAP tax expense
if the income subject to taxes is higher considering the effect of
the items excluded from GAAP profit to arrive at non-GAAP
profit.
Reconciliation of net cash
As at
Dec 31, 2023
As at
Mar 31, 2023
Gross cash (including investments)
$
260.4
$
304.9
Less: Debt (short term and long term)
(177.4
)
(173.4
)
Net cash
$
83.0
$
131.5
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240117018619/en/
Investors: David Mackey EVP – Finance & Head
of Investor Relations WNS (Holdings) Limited +1 (646) 908-2615
david.mackey@wns.com
Media: Archana Raghuram EVP & Global Head –
Marketing & Communications WNS (Holdings) Limited +91 (22) 4095
2397 archana.raghuram@wns.com; pr@wns.com
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