Infosys, one of India’s largest information technology (IT) services companies, has lost a major contract potentially worth $1.5 billion from an unnamed global client. This development highlights the challenging demand environment currently facing the IT services industry, with some clients cautious about existing projects.
Background of the Cancelled Contract
On September 14, 2022, Infosys had announced signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with an undisclosed global client for digital transformation and business operations services. The total contract value was estimated at $1.5 billion over 15 years. The finalization of the deal was subject to the parties entering into a master agreement.
However, on December 24, 2022, Infosys revealed that the global client has now decided to terminate the MoU. As a result, the two parties will not be pursuing the master agreement and the $1.5 billion contract will not materialize.
The name of the client was not disclosed by Infosys, so it is unclear whether it was an existing client looking to expand services or a new client that Infosys was hoping to add to its roster. The loss of such a large deal is no doubt a setback for Infosys.
Challenging Market Environment for Indian IT Companies
The cancellation of this contract points to the uncertain demand environment facing Indian IT services firms like Infosys, TCS, Wipro and others. With rising inflation and economic slowdown fears, especially in major markets like the US and Europe, some clients are holding back on existing IT projects and new deals.
IT spending is also being impacted across verticals like banking, financial services, retail, manufacturing, telecom, and others. Discretionary spending, where margins are higher for IT companies, has been sharply curtailed.
Several IT firms have moderated their growth guidance over the past two quarters. Infosys itself lowered its full year revenue growth guidance to 1-2.5%, down from 4-7% projected earlier.
The company’s results for the September 2022 quarter also indicated a challenging demand situation. Net profit grew only 3.2% year-over-year, much lower than the strong double-digit growth Infosys had recorded in the past few quarters.
Other Recent Challenges Faced by Infosys
The loss of the $1.5 billion contract comes on the heels of other challenges faced by Infosys in recent months.
In September 2022, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nilanjan Roy resigned abruptly from Infosys. This was followed by the appointment of Jayesh Sanghrajka, the current Deputy CFO, as the new CFO.
Earlier in March 2022, President Mohit Joshi quit Infosys to join rival IT services firm Tech Mahindra as MD and CEO. This followed the departure of another President Ravi Kumar who left to join Cognizant.
These senior management exits point to uncertainties faced by the company amid a tough macro environment. While Infosys has tried to stabilize its leadership team, the big contract loss underscores its struggle to clinch large deals.
Infosys’ Attempts to Bag New Deals
Despite the tough climate, Infosys has been trying to win new deals and expand partnerships with clients.
- In November 2022, it announced a five-year tie-up with LKQ Europe, a leading distributor of automotive parts in Europe.
- In August 2022, Infosys expanded its collaboration with telecom giant Liberty Global. Under this deal, Infosys will provide services worth €1.5 billion over 5 years, going up to €2.3 billion if extended to 8 years.
- The company’s large deal Total Contract Value (TCV) in the September 2022 quarter was the highest ever at $7.7 billion.
So while Infosys faces challenges, it continues to see some contract wins, which can provide stability over the coming quarters. Look at the cred business model.
Outlook for Infosys and the IT Sector
With the $1.5 billion deal now cancelled, Infosys may have to struggle to achieve its lowered revenue guidance for this fiscal year. Its Q3 results next month will provide more clarity on the demand outlook.
Other Indian IT companies are also likely to remain cautious in guiding for 2023 growth amid inflationary pressures, recession worries, and tightening budgets at client organizations.
However, the long-term outlook for India’s IT sector remains stable. Global spending on digital transformation, cloud, AI, cybersecurity and other technologies continues to rise.
Indian firms like Infosys, TCS and Wipro need to adjust their strategies for the current slower growth environment. But their strong capabilities and client relationships should help them get through the near-term challenges.
The cancellation of the $1.5 billion Infosys contract serves as a warning signal for Indian IT. However, the sector is expected to display resilience once global economic growth starts picking up momentum.