Rating Rationale
January 21, 2020 | Mumbai
Infosys Limited
Long-term rating removed from 'Watch Developing' ; Ratings Reaffirmed 
 
Rating Action
Long-Term Debt Programme CRISIL AAA/Stable (Removed from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implications'; Rating Reaffirmed)
Commercial Paper Programme CRISIL A1+ (Reaffirmed)
1 crore = 10 million
Refer to annexure for Details of Instruments & Bank Facilities
Detailed Rationale

CRISIL has removed its rating on the long-term debt programme of Infosys Limited (Infosys) from 'Rating Watch with Developing Implication' and has reaffirmed the rating at 'CRISIL AAA' while assigning a 'Stable' outlook. The rating on the commercial paper has been reaffirmed at 'CRISIL A1+'.
 
The rating action follows the announcement by the company on January 10, 2020, that its Internal Audit Committee, assisted by Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co and PricewaterhouseCoopers Pvt Ltd, found no evidence of financial impropriety or executive misconduct. The Audit Committee has also concluded that no restatement of previously published financial statements or other financial information was warranted. This alleviates the major concerns around the issues highlighted in the recent whistle-blower complaint.
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), US federal court, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) are yet to conclude their investigation, and CRISIL will continue to monitor these developments.
 
The long-term rating was placed on 'Developing Watch' following the disclosure by Infosys on October 21, 2019, that its board members had received anonymous whistle-blower complaints alleging certain unethical practices in reporting financials and irregularities in travel-related aspects of a senior management executive. The company had placed the complaints before its Audit Committee on October 10, 2019, and retained a law firm to conduct an independent investigation. The independent internal auditors and statutory auditors were also informed of these developments.
 
The ratings continue to reflect the leading position of the company in the Indian information technology (IT) services space, its large scale of operations and healthy operating efficiency, solid financial risk profile with debt-free balance sheet, and robust liquid surplus of Rs 26,403 crore as on December 31, 2019. These strengths are partially offset by exposure to intense competition in the IT industry.

Analytical Approach

For arriving at its ratings, CRISIL has combined the business and financial risk profiles of Infosys and its majority-owned subsidiaries.

Please refer Annexure - List of entities consolidated, which captures the list of entities considered and their analytical treatment of consolidation.

Key Rating Drivers & Detailed Description
Strengths:
* Leading player in the Indian IT services space, with established position across verticals and service lines
Infosys has a diversified range of offerings across service segments and industry verticals. It has steadily increased the share of revenue from digital services, (38.3% of revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 compared with 25.8% in fiscal 2018) which comprise offerings based on artificial intelligence, big data, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud applications, and advanced cybersecurity systems, driven by better client acceptance of its digital products and services. The company's core services (61.7% of revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2020) comprise traditional offerings and primarily include application development and management services, product engineering and management, infrastructure management services, support and integration services. In terms of verticals, Infosys derived about one third of its revenue from the banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI) segment during fiscal 2019. The company also has a large presence in other verticals, such as retail (16% of revenue in fiscal 2019), communication (13%), energy and utilities (13%), and manufacturing (10%).
 
* Large scale of operations and healthy operating efficiency
Infosys's business risk profile is supported by its leading market position, large scale of operations with a skilled resource base of 2,43,454 employees (as on December 31, 2019), proven project execution skills, and strong offshore delivery capability. Revenue growth has been moderate at 10.4%, with constant currency growth of 9.7% during the first nine months of fiscal 2020, supported by total contract value of large deals (greater than USD 50 million) of USD 7.4 billion as on December 31, 2019. Operating profitability declined to 24.6% in the first nine months of fiscal 2020 from 25.8% during the corresponding period of fiscal 2019 due to higher employee cost as well as increased strategic investment for enhancing capability in sales and marketing and employee reskilling. Nevertheless, the company's profitability remains among the best in the industry supported by its superior revenue mix, cost optimisation measures, and delivery effectiveness. 
 
* Strong financial risk profile and robust liquidity
Infosys has a strong financial risk profile, driven by its healthy annual cash generating ability and debt-free balance sheet (for over a decade). Net cash accrual stood at Rs 3,709 crore for fiscal 2019 after a dividend payout of Rs 13,712 crore. During August 2019, Infosys completed the planned share buyback for Rs 8,260 crore as part of the capital allocation programme announced in April 2018.
 
Financial flexibility is strong, supported by robust liquidity in the form of cash and cash equivalent of Rs 26,403 crore as on December 31, 2019. Despite the acceleration in capital return programme, liquidity will remain robust supported by sufficient funds to finance working capital and capital expenditure (capex) requirement over the medium term.
 
Weakness:
* Exposure to intense competition in the IT industry
The current moderation in discretionary spending by large clients has impacted revenue growth in the IT industry, especially in traditional outsourcing services. Furthermore, being a leading player in the IT outsourcing space, Infosys competes with not just Indian IT majors such as Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), HCL Technologies Ltd ('CCR AAA/Stable') and Wipro Ltd, but also global IT giants such as International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Accenture Plc, and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). The slowdown in IT spend by global clients and the consequent decline in contract value in the industry has intensified competition among players. Infosys derives around 40% of revenue from digital services and 60% from traditional IT services. While the company remains exposed to challenging business conditions, its strategy of focusing on the traditional high-volume segments, increasing automation, and building capability in the higher margin digital and consulting segments will mitigate the impact on profitability over the medium term.
Liquidity Superior

Liquidity remains superior driven by cash surplus of Rs 26,403 crore as on December 31, 2019. The company has no long-term debt and plans moderate capex. CRISIL believes Infosys will maintain strong liquidity over the medium term, as the existing funds and expected cash accrual will be more than sufficient to finance working capital, capex, investment in various subsidiaries, as well as the capital return to investors.

Outlook: Stable

CRISIL believes Infosys will maintain its strong position in the Indian IT services sector and its robust financial risk profile and liquidity over the medium term.

Rating Sensitivity factors
Downward factors:
*Any significant adverse observations or findings from the ongoing investigations by regulators and government agencies into the whistle-blower complaints 
* Sustained slowdown in revenue growth or sustained decline in OPBDIT (operating profit before depreciation, interest, and tax) margin below 20% due to regulatory changes in operating regions, or reduction in client spending, weakening the business risk profile 
* Sustained reduction in cash surplus due to large acquisitions or capital return to investors, affecting financial flexibility
About the Company

Infosys is a large Indian IT services company, offering a range of services, including application development and maintenance, consulting and systems integration, enterprise application and package implementation, and re-engineering services. It caters to industry verticals such as financial services, manufacturing, telecommunications, retail, life sciences, media and entertainment, and energy and utilities. The company has entered the business process management services segment through its subsidiary, Infosys BPO Ltd.
 
As on December 31, 2019, Infosys had 1,384 active clients and presence in 46 countries. The promoters held 13.15% stake in the company as on December 31, 2019.
 
For the nine months ended December 31, 2019, the company reported a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 12,304 crore (Rs 11,332 crore in the corresponding period of fiscal 2019) and net revenue of Rs 67,524 crore (Rs 61,137 crore).

Key Financial Indicators
As on / for the period ended March 31 Unit 2019 2018
Revenue Rs Crores 82,940 70,724
PAT Rs Crores 15,410 16,029
PAT margin % 18.6 22.7
Adjusted debt/adjusted networth Times 0.00 0.00
Interest coverage Times NM NM
NM - Not Meaningful

Any other information: Not applicable

Note on complexity levels of the rated instrument:
CRISIL complexity levels are assigned to various types of financial instruments. The CRISIL complexity levels are available on www.crisil.com/complexity-levels. Users are advised to refer to the CRISIL complexity levels for instruments that they consider for investment. Users may also call the Customer Service Helpdesk with queries on specific instruments.
Annexure - Details of Instrument(s)
ISIN Name of Instrument Date of Allotment Coupon rate (%) Maturity date Issue size (Rs.Crore) Rating Assigned
with Outlook
NA* Long-Term Debt Programme NA NA NA 0.00 CRISIL AAA/Stable
NA* Commercial Paper Programme NA NA 7-365 days 0.00 CRISIL A1+
*No borrowings issued against this programme
 
Annexure - List of entities consolidated
Sr.No. Entity consolidated Extent of consolidation Rationale for consolidation
1 Infosys Ltd Full Holding
2 Infosys Technologies (China) Co. Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
3 Infosys Technologies S. de R. L. de C. V. Full Co-Subsidiary
4 Infosys Technologies (Sweden) AB Full Co-Subsidiary
5 Infosys Technologies (Shanghai) Co. Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
6 Infosys Technologia DO Brasil LTDA. (effective October 01, 2019, merged into Infosys Consulting Ltda). Full Co-Subsidiary
7 Infosys Nova Holdings LLC. Full Co-Subsidiary
8 EdgeVerve Systems Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
9 Infosys Austria GmbH Full Co-Subsidiary
10 Skava Systems Private Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
11 Kallidus Inc. Full Co-Subsidiary
12 Infosys Chile SpA Full Co-Subsidiary
13 Infosys Arabia Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
14 Infosys Consulting Ltda. Full Co-Subsidiary
15 Infosys CIS LLC Full Co-Subsidiary
16 Infosys Luxembourg SARL Full Co-Subsidiary
17 Infosys Americas Inc. Full Co-Subsidiary
18 Infosys Technologies (Australia) Pty. Limited (liquidated effective  November 17, 2019). Full Co-Subsidiary
19 Infosys Public Services, Inc. Full Co-Subsidiary
20 Infosys Canada Public Services Inc. Full Co-Subsidiary
21 Infosys BPM Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
22 Infosys (Czech Republic) Limited s.r.o Full Co-Subsidiary
23 Infosys Poland Sp z.o.o Full Co-Subsidiary
24 Infosys McCamish Systems LLC Full Co-Subsidiary
25 Portland Group Pty. Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
26 Infosys BPO Americas LLC. Full Co-Subsidiary
27 Infosys Consulting Holding AG Full Co-Subsidiary
28 Infosys Management Consulting Pty Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
29 Infosys Consulting AG Full Co-Subsidiary
30 Infosys Consulting GmbH Full Co-Subsidiary
31 Infosys Consulting SAS Full Co-Subsidiary
32 Infosys Consulting s.r.o. Full Co-Subsidiary
33 Infosys Consulting (Shanghai) Co Ltd (formerly Lodestone Management Consultants Co., Ltd.) Full Co-Subsidiary
34 Infy Consulting Company Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
35 Infy Consulting B.V. Full Co-Subsidiary
36 Infosys Consulting Sp. Z.o.o. Full Co-Subsidiary
37 Lodestone Management Consultants Portugal, Unipessoal, Lda Full Co-Subsidiary
38 Infosys Consulting S.R.L, Romania. Full Co-Subsidiary
39 Infosys Consulting S.R.L. Full Co-Subsidiary
40 Infosys Consulting (Belgium) NV Full Co-Subsidiary
41 Panaya Inc. Full Co-Subsidiary
42 Panaya Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
43 Panaya Gmbh Full Co-Subsidiary
44 Panaya Japan Co. Ltd. Full Co-Subsidiary
45 Brilliant Basics Holdings Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
46 Brilliant Basics Limited Full Co-Subsidiary
47 Brilliant Basics (MENA) DMCC(8) Full Co-Subsidiary
48 Infosys Consulting Pte Ltd. Full Co-Subsidiary
49 Infosys Middle East FZ LLC Full Co-Subsidiary
50 Fluido Oy Full Co-Subsidiary
51 Fluido Sweden AB (Extero) Full Co-Subsidiary
52 Fluido Norway A/S Full Co-Subsidiary
53 Fluido Denmark A/S Full Co-Subsidiary
54 Fluido Slovakia s.r.o Full Co-Subsidiary
55 Fluido Newco AB Full Co-Subsidiary
56 Infosys Compaz PTE. Ltd Full Co-Subsidiary
57 Infosys Suth Africa (Pty) Ltd Full Co-Subsidiary
58 Wong Doody Holding Company Inc Full Co-Subsidiary
59 WDW Communications Inc Full Co-Subsidiary
60 WongDoody Inc. Full Co-Subsidiary
61 HIPUS Co. Ltd. (Acquired on April 1, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
62 Stater N.V. (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
63 Stater Nederland B.V. (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
64 Stater Duitsland B.V. (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
65 Stater XXL B.V. (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
66 HypoCasso B.V. (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
67 Stater Participations B.V. (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
68 Stater Deutschland Verwaltungs-Gmbh (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
69 Stater Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
70 Stater Belgium N.V./S.A. (Acquired on May 23, 2019) Full Co-Subsidiary
71 Infosys Employees Welfare Trust Full Co-Subsidiary
72 Infosys Employee Benefits Trust Full Co-Subsidiary
73 Infosys Science Foundation Full Co-Subsidiary
74 Infosys Expanded Stock Ownership Trust Full Co-Subsidiary
Annexure - Rating History for last 3 Years
  Current 2020 (History) 2019  2018  2017  Start of 2017
Instrument Type Outstanding Amount Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Date Rating Rating
Commercial Paper  ST  0.00  CRISIL A1+      25-10-19  CRISIL A1+  29-06-18  CRISIL A1+  27-06-17  CRISIL A1+  CRISIL A1+ 
            17-01-19  CRISIL A1+           
Long Term Debt  LT  0.00
01-01-20 
CRISIL AAA/Stable      25-10-19  CRISIL AAA/Watch Developing  29-06-18  CRISIL AAA/Stable  27-06-17  CRISIL AAA/Stable  CRISIL AAA/Stable 
            17-01-19  CRISIL AAA/Stable           
All amounts are in Rs.Cr.
Links to related criteria
CRISILs Approach to Financial Ratios
Rating criteria for manufaturing and service sector companies
Rating Criteria for Software Industry
CRISILs Criteria for Consolidation
CRISILs Criteria for rating short term debt

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