Q2 2026 Infosys Ltd Earnings Call - Press Conference

Speaker #4: Our operating margin was 21%. Our large deals were at $3.1 billion, of which 67% was new or net new work. In addition, we announced a mega deal worth $1.6 billion after the close of the quarter, but before today, before our results announcement.

Speaker #4: We've added 8,000 employees during the quarter. Our client interactions are showing a strong focus on deploying AI across the enterprise, both for growth and for cost-efficiency programs.

Speaker #4: In doing this, we are continuing to scale our team of forward-deployed engineers. With a strong performance in Q2, we changed our revenue growth guidance for the financial year.

Speaker #4: The new guidance is growth between 2% and 3% in constant currency terms for the full year. Our operating margin guidance remains the same as in the past quarter, at 20% to 22% for the full year.

Salil Parekh: The new guidance is growth between 2% and 3% in constant currency terms for the full year. Our operating margin guidance remains the same as in the past quarter, at 20% to 22% for the full year. With that, let's open it up for questions.

Speaker #4: With that, let's open it up for questions.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Salil. We will now open the floor for questions. Joining Salil is Mr. Jayesh Sanghrajka, Chief Financial Officer of Infosys. The first question is from Ripu Singh from CNBC TV18.

Rishi Basu: Thank you, Salil. We will now open the floor for questions. Joining Salil is Mr. Jayesh Sanghrajka, Chief Financial Officer at Infosys. The first question is from Ritu Singh from CNBC TV18.

Speaker #5: Thank you. Hi, Salil. Hi, Jayesh. Salil, firstly on the guidance, you know, the fact that you've tightened it, but not really increased it from 1% to 3%. You've gone to 2% to 3%.

[Analyst]: Thank you. Hi, Salil. Hi, Jayesh. Salil, firstly, on the guidance, you know the fact that you've tightened it, but not really increased it from 1% to 3%, you've gone to 2% to 3%. You know with a 2.2% growth this quarter as well, you know at the current run rate, you'll at most have a flat growth for the rest of the year for Q3 and Q4. With the current guidance, you'll easily get to the top end. I wanted to understand, you know are you not seeing a meaningful recovery, especially when it comes to your manufacturing, retail, you know these kind of verticals? What kind of headwinds do you continue to see? Because for Infosys, the contribution to revenues is slightly larger than peers. That was one.

Speaker #5: And, you know, with a 2.2% growth this quarter as well, you know, at the current run rate, you'll at most have flat growth for the rest of the year for Q3 and Q4 with the current guidance.

Speaker #5: You'll easily get to the top end. So, I wanted to understand, you know, are you not seeing a meaningful recovery, especially when it comes to your manufacturing, retail, you know, these kinds of verticals?

Speaker #5: What kind of headwinds do you continue to see? Because for Infosys, the contribution to revenues is slightly larger than peers. That was one. Also, on the H1B visa issue, if you could give us some details on how many employees you deployed on this visa for this year and the previous couple of years, and whether you see this now as being something unviable—sending freshers on H1B visas to work in the U.S.

[Analyst]: Also, on the H-1B visa issue, if you could give us some details on how many employees you deployed on this visa for this year and the previous, maybe, a couple of years, and whether you see now this as being something unviable, sending freshers on H-1B visas to work in the U.S. If I may also ask, you know your peers, like ECL Tech, have also started to quantify their AI revenues. We've been asking you this for several quarters now. We understand AI cuts across services and sectors. Could you give us a sense of what exactly you're seeing there? Finally, the Wilson Group acquisition, what exactly was the contribution to revenues and whether you're looking at further M&A in the region or outside? Thank you.

Speaker #5: If I may also ask, you know, your peers, like ECL Tech, have also started to quantify their AI revenues. We've been asking you this for several quarters now, and we understand AI cuts across services and sectors.

Speaker #5: Could you give us a sense of, you know, what exactly you're seeing there? And finally, the person group acquisition. What exactly was the contribution to revenues, and whether you're looking at further M&A in the region or outside?

Speaker #5: Thank you.

Speaker #4: So, let me start, and Jayesh will add in a couple of things. First, on the guidance and the environment, typically we have the second half of the year being slower than the first half.

Salil Parekh: Let me start, and Jayesh will add in a couple of things. First, on the guidance and the environment, in the guidance, typically, we have the second half of the year is slower than the first half. That's the normal pattern. We've continued with that pattern. Having said that, we've seen good traction, and that's how we've actually increased the guidance. The previous guidance was 1% to 3%, and now it's 2% to 3%. In a sense, we have much more confidence with the lower end being increased in what we see into the outlook for the year. In terms of the specific industries you mentioned, we had a good performance on manufacturing, on financial services. We still see constraints in retail. We do see a good pipeline there, and we will see how that plays out in the coming quarters.

Speaker #4: That's the normal pattern, so we've continued with that pattern. Having said that, we've seen good traction, and that's how we've actually increased the guidance.

Speaker #4: The previous guidance was 1% to 3%, and now it's 2% to 3%. So, in a sense, we have much more confidence with the lower end being increased.

Speaker #4: In what we see into the outlook for the year, in terms of the specific industries you mentioned, we had a good performance in manufacturing. In financial services, we still see constraints in retail; however, we do see a good pipeline there, and we will see how that plays out in the coming quarters.

Speaker #4: Keeping all those things in mind and the global environment in terms of the macro, we decided to keep the guidance at 2% to 3% with all of those factors that I mentioned.

Salil Parekh: Keeping all those things in mind and the global environment in terms of the macro, we decided to keep the guidance at 2% to 3% with all of those factors that I mentioned. On the H visa, what we've shared in the past, what we've shared recently, first, our U.S. workforce, the number of people that require Infosys sponsorship for immigration is a minority. The majority of the people don't require it from our perspective. We build a large number of centers and hubs which are focused on digital, on innovation, on technology, and AI in the U.S. We have relationships with universities. We have a training facility there. With all of that in mind, we are clear today that we will work with our clients without any disruption to their services and into the future.

Speaker #4: On the H visa, what we've shared in the past, what we've shared recently, first, our U.S. workforce—the number of people that require Infosys sponsorship for immigration is a minority.

Speaker #4: So the majority of the people don't require it from our perspective. Second, we've built a large number of centers and hubs that are focused on digital, innovation, technology, and AI in the U.S.

Speaker #4: We have relationships with universities, and we have a training facility there. With all of that in mind, we are clear today that we will work with our clients without any disruption to their services, and into the future.

Speaker #4: We don't have any specific information to share on the numbers that you had suggested.

Salil Parekh: We don't have any specific information to share on the numbers that you had suggested.

Speaker #5: You know, when you say a minority was dependent on the H-1B visa, could you give us, you know, in person-to-terms? You know, how many of your employees that you were sending abroad were on these visas? And when you say there won't be any disruption, you know, how exactly will that play out?

[Analyst]: When you say a minority was dependent on the H-1B visa, could you give us, you know, in percentage terms, how many of your employees that you were sending abroad were on these visas? When you say there won't be any disruption, how exactly will that play out?

Speaker #4: So, we don't share the specific numbers, but the majority of our employees in the U.S. are employees who don't require any Infosys immigration support.

Salil Parekh: We don't share the specific numbers, but the majority of our employees in the U.S. are employees who don't require any Infosys immigration support. The way we are working with our clients, we've reached out to each of them and made sure that we see and they see how their delivery continuity becomes on track and remains the way it is right now. On Wilson, first, there's nothing in the quarter this quarter. They're going through all the approvals and so on, so the regulatory approval, which is a normal process. We'd anticipated it would come sometime in the coming months. Yes, we are very much looking at other acquisitions. We have a good pipeline. We don't know when those will materialize, but there are some opportunities there which we are looking at.

Speaker #4: The way we are working with our clients, we've reached out to each of them and made sure that we see, and they see, how their delivery continuity remains on track and continues the way it is right now.

Speaker #4: Then on Versant, so first, there's nothing in the quarter, this quarter. They're going through all the approvals and so on. So the regulatory approval, which is a normal process, we'd anticipated it would come sometime in the coming months.

Speaker #4: Yes, we are very much looking at other acquisitions. We have a good pipeline; we don't know when those will materialize, but there are some opportunities there which we're looking at.

Speaker #5: Sorry, the question on Versant was, you know, going forward, what kind of contribution to revenue do you expect? And in M&A, what are the areas and geographies where you're looking to fill the gaps?

[Analyst]: Sorry. The question on Wilson was, you know, going forward, what kind of contribution to revenue do you expect? In M&A, what are the areas, what are the geographies where you're looking to fill the gaps?

Speaker #4: On the contribution, we don't have anything to share now. When it closes, we will be in a position to give that information. Is there anything more on Versant?

Salil Parekh: On the contribution, we don't have anything to share now. When it closes, we will be in a position to give that information. Is there anything more on Wilson?

Speaker #3: I think we have given the last year's numbers of Versant already in the stock exchange filings. You know that we did last time when we announced that.

Rishi Basu: I think we have given the last year's numbers of Wilson already in the stock exchange filings that we did last time when we announced that. You can make an estimate based on that. Just to add to what Salil was saying on the guidance as well, if you look at the commentary last time when we gave a guidance, we very clearly said that the upper end of the guidance is where we are expecting stability in the environment, and the lower end of the guidance is where we are expecting worsening in the environment, right? As we stand today, the environment still remains uncertain. Despite that, on the back of Q2 performance, we have tightened our guidance, where again, we are very clearly saying that at the lower end, we expect the worsening of the environment, and at the upper end, we are expecting stability in the environment.

Speaker #3: So, you can make an estimate based on that. But just to add to what Salil was saying on the guidance as well, you know, if you look at the commentary last time when we gave guidance, we very clearly said that the upper end of the guidance is where we are expecting stability in the environment, and the lower end of the guidance is where we are expecting worsening in the environment, right?

Speaker #3: As we stand today, the environment still remains uncertain, and despite that, on the back of Q2 performance, we have tightened our guidance. We are very clearly saying that at the lower end, we expect the worsening of the environment, and at the upper end, we are expecting stability in the environment, right?

Speaker #4: On AI, I think we are scaling up massively. We have a large team of FDEs, and we are doing a lot of projects on enterprise AI with clients focused on growth, specifically in the sales function or marketing function. We are also focused on cost, optimizing many of their processes.

Salil Parekh: On AI, I think we are scaling up massively on AI. We have a large team of FDEs. We are doing a lot of projects on enterprise AI with clients on growth, which is focused like in the sales function or marketing function, on cost, which is focused on many of their processes, optimizing them, on customer service, on code development. There's a broad set of AI work that we are doing with our clients. There's a large number of clients for which Infosys is today the AI partner of choice. We're going quite well. We have strong partnerships with a lot of different large tech companies. We believe there's a huge amount of opportunity in the enterprise AI space. With our experience on how to navigate within the enterprise landscape, we are quite well positioned to help with that. Thank you.

Speaker #4: On customer service and code development, we have a broad set of AI work that we are doing with our clients. There is a large number of clients for which Infosys is today the AI partner of choice.

Speaker #4: So, we are doing quite well. We have strong partnerships with a lot of different large tech companies; we believe there's a huge amount of opportunity in the enterprise AI space.

Speaker #4: And with our experience on how to navigate within the enterprise landscape, we are quite well-positioned to help with that.

Speaker #3: Thank you. The next question is from Jude from ET Now.

Rishi Basu: The next question is from Jude from ET Now.

Speaker #5: Hi, Salil. Good too.

[Analyst]: Hi, Salil. Good to meet you here, and congratulations on that performance. You spoke about scaling up on the AI front. Could I get you to throw some light on what those specific deals are like? What is the AI order book shaping up to be at this point in time? More importantly, what will your hiring trends be like for the rest of FY 2026? I know for a fact that you have the confidence, which is why you raised the lower end of the guidance. What is the overall demand environment shaping up to be like for the fiscal?

Speaker #3: Hi, Salil. Good to meet you here, and congratulations on that performance. You spoke about scaling up on the AI front. Could I get you to throw some light on what those specific deals are like?

Speaker #3: What is the AI order book shaping up to be at this point in time? More importantly, what will your hiring trends be like for the rest of FY26?

Speaker #3: And I know for a fact that you have the confidence, which is why you raised the lower end of the guidance. But what is the overall demand environment shaping up to be like for the fiscal?

Speaker #4: So, on AI, I think what we see today is a lot of interest where there's deep work going on, whether it's on a specific knowledge process, or it's in credit risk, or there's work being done on software development, or there's work going on in customer service.

Salil Parekh: On AI, I think what we see today is a lot of interest where there's deep work going on, whether it's on a specific knowledge process, or it's in credit risk, or there's work going on in software development, or there's work going on in customer service. A broad area of AI projects that we are working on. In some cases, we're working across an enterprise on transforming that enterprise from an AI perspective and making them the leading enterprise in their industry in AI. Good traction there. In fact, we have more and more of this that we want to start to share in the sense of what are the approaches that we are taking, how it's working. You'll see that as we go through in the next few months. On the environment, as Jayesh was sharing, the environment is still uncertain.

Speaker #4: So, a broad area of AI projects that we are working on. In some cases, we're working across an enterprise on transforming that enterprise from an AI perspective.

Speaker #4: And making them the leading enterprise in their industry in AI. So, good traction there. In fact, we have more and more of this that we want to start to share in the sense of what are the approaches that we are taking, how it's working, and you'll see that as we go through in the next few months.

Speaker #4: On the environment, as Jayesh was sharing, the environment is still uncertain. What we see today are some changes in how the global macro environment is looking.

Salil Parekh: What we see today is some changes in where the global environment macro is looking. We still see in some of our large markets that there is growth, but there's also some inflation. There's job creation, which is constrained in some other markets. There are cost constraints. Some industries are seeing that. That's a mix. Equally, we are seeing a lot of strength, for example, in financial services. Our client base is doing very well. We see extremely good growth. We've seen good growth in manufacturing in this quarter. We have a portfolio where we are across all of these different industries, which helps us to deliver the kind of performance that we've delivered for this quarter. In terms of hiring, if you look at our hiring for this quarter, our net addition is already at 8,000.

Speaker #4: We still see, in some of our large markets, that there is growth, but there's also some inflation. There's job creation, which is constrained in some other markets.

Speaker #4: There are cost constraints; some industries are seeing that. So, that's a mix. Equally, we are seeing a lot of strength, for example, in financial services. Our client base is doing very well.

Speaker #4: We see extremely good growth. We've seen strong growth in manufacturing. In this quarter, we have a portfolio that spans across all of these different industries.

Speaker #4: Which helps us deliver the kind of performance that we've delivered for this quarter. In terms of hiring, if you look at our hiring for this quarter, our net addition is already at 8,000.

Speaker #4: We are given guidance in terms of the fresh hiring for the year, and we had said 15,000 to 20,000, which we expect.

Salil Parekh: We had given a guidance in terms of the fresh hiring for the year, and we had said 15,000 to 20,000 is what we expect. We have hired in the first half 12,000-plus freshers already. We are well on our track to hire close to 20,000 this year.

Speaker #4: We have hired, in the first half, over 12,000 freshers already. So we are well on track to hire close to 20,000 this year.

Speaker #3: Thank you. The next question is from Uma Kannan from Deccan Herald.

Rishi Basu: Thank you. The next question is from Uma Kannon from Deccan Herald.

Speaker #2: Good evening. In the last couple of years, Europe has been constantly outperforming for you. So what are the factors driving that? And can you give us an update on Project Maximus and its impact on your performance?

[Analyst]: Good evening. In the last couple of years, Europe has been constantly outperforming for you. What are the factors driving that? Can you give us an update on Project Maximus and its impact on your performance? One more on fresher hiring. Have you onboarded all freshers whom you have offered?

Speaker #2: And one more on fresher hiring. Have you onboarded all freshers whom you have offered?

Speaker #4: On the Maximus and the hiring, Jayesh will come back. On Europe, I think Europe has done extremely well for us. We made some good investments in different countries across Europe.

Salil Parekh: On the Maximus and the hiring, Jayesh will come back. On Europe, I think Europe's done extremely well for us. We made some good investments in different countries across Europe. We've seen also, especially in the time you mentioned, the past two years, there's been a lot of opening up of companies in Europe in different countries to looking at the sort of services that we are offering, to looking at both transformation and cost efficiency. There, we've played quite well in those markets. Having said that, we still see the U.S. market is also a very good market. We will continue to grow. We will continue to make acquisitions. We'll continue to invest in both of those markets and other markets around the world. Yeah.

Speaker #4: We've seen, especially in the time you mentioned, the past two years, there's been a lot of opening up of companies in Europe, in different countries, to looking at the sort of services that we are offering—looking at both transformation and cost efficiency.

Speaker #4: And there, we've played quite well in those markets. Having said that, we still see the U.S. market as a very good market, and we will continue to grow.

Speaker #4: We will continue to make acquisitions; we'll continue to invest in both of those markets and other markets around the world.

Speaker #3: Yeah.

Speaker #4: So, on hiring, as I said earlier, we have hired a net of 8,000 employees. We have hired 12,000 freshers this half already, and they are already being onboarded as we speak.

Rishi Basu: On hiring, as I said earlier, we have hired net 8,000 employees. We have hired 12,000 freshers this half already, and they're already being onboarded as we speak. In terms of Project Maximus, I think Project Maximus is continuing to deliver. If you look at last year, we expanded margins by 50 basis points. Despite multiple headwinds, compensation-related, we had a higher variable pay. We had impact coming from the acquisition and multiple mega deals that we signed in the year before. They were ramping up. We absorbed all of those headwinds, and we were able to expand margin by 50 basis points. Even this quarter, if you look at it, we've expanded margin by 20 basis points sequentially. Project Maximus has delivered 30 basis points out of that, where pricing gave us a tailwind, and that was offset by higher subcon and lower onsite utilization.

Speaker #4: In terms of Project Maximus, I think Project Maximus is continuing to deliver. If you look at last year, we expanded margins by 50 basis points.

Speaker #4: Despite multiple headwinds, you know, compensation-related, we had a higher variable pay. We had, you know, impact coming from the acquisition and multiple mega deals that we signed in the year before.

Speaker #4: You know, they were ramping up. So we absorbed all of those headwinds, and we were able to expand margin by 50 basis points. Even this quarter, if you look at it, we've expanded margin by 20 basis points, you know, sequentially.

Speaker #4: And the project Maximus has benefited, delivering 30 basis points. Where pricing gave us a tailwind, that was offset by higher subcontractor costs and lower onsite utilization.

Speaker #4: So the project is in works. Yeah.

Rishi Basu: The project is in works.

Speaker #3: Thank you. The next question is from Beena Parmar from The Economic Times.

Salil Parekh: Thank you. The next question is from Bina Parmar from The Economic Times.

Speaker #2: Hi, Salil. You've noticed some reduction in your contribution from your top 5 and 10 clients. Could you give us some sense of why that is happening, and how do you see that in the next two quarters?

[Analyst]: Hi. Salil, you've seen some reduction in your contribution from your top 5 and 10 clients. Could you give us some sense why that is happening? How do you see that in the next two quarters? In terms of the hiring, what sort of outlook do you have overall for, say, campus and off-campus hiring, especially because of the way things are moving? While the pipeline has been strong, the market continues to remain uncertain. Secondly, in terms of the pipeline, where is the growth, where is the deal pipeline coming from? Which sectors is it coming from, and which geographies? Lastly, in terms of the margins, what are the levers, given that you've already done with your wage hikes and you also plan to onboard freshers?

Speaker #2: And in terms of the hiring, what sort of outlook do you have overall for, say, campus and off-campus hiring? Especially because of the way things are moving.

Speaker #2: While the deal pipeline has been strong, the market continues to remain uncertain. Secondly, in terms of the pipeline, where is the growth? Where is the deal pipeline coming from?

Speaker #2: Which sectors is it coming from, and which geographies? And lastly, in terms of the margins, what are the levers given that, you know, you've already done with your wage hikes?

Speaker #2: And you also plan to onboard freshers.

Speaker #4: So, let me start with the pipeline view and some of the others Jayesh will look at. So, you can combine those. Our pipeline remains very strong right now on large deals.

Salil Parekh: Let me start with the pipeline view and some of the others. Jayesh will look at it. You can combine those. Our pipeline remains very strong right now on large deals. What we are seeing is a lot of our clients are quite focused on cost optimization, consolidation. We are benefiting from consolidation plays on automation and on using AI for efficiency. That is the, let's say, the big focus that we see from our clients across industries. I'll come to the specific industries. We see some attention to using AI for some of the growth activities and what we can do with an AI transformation. Within all of that, we see some of our industry segments with the pipeline doing well. There are some places, for example, in financial services, where we see good traction with clients. We see good traction in manufacturing.

Speaker #4: What we are seeing is that a lot of our clients are quite focused on cost optimization and consolidation. We are benefiting from consolidation plays, automation, and using AI for efficiency.

Speaker #4: That's the, let's say, the big focus that we see from our clients across industries. And I'll come to the specific industries. Then we see some attention to using AI for some of their growth activities, and what we can do with an AI transformation.

Speaker #4: Now, within all of that, we see some of our industry segments with the pipeline doing well. There are some places, for example, in financial services, where we see good traction with clients.

Speaker #4: We see good traction in manufacturing. Our pipeline in retail is looking good, and we are looking to see how that can now be converted.

Salil Parekh: Our pipeline in retail is looking good. We are looking to see how that can be now converted. The overall sentiment, though, is a good large deal pipeline with a view to much more focus on cost efficiency and automation in those types of activities.

Speaker #4: The overall sentiment, though, is good large deal pipeline. With a view to much more focus on cost efficiency and automation in those types of activities.

Speaker #2: On the client contribution?

Speaker #4: Margin hiring. Yeah. So if you look at client contribution, I think, you know, those changes are very marginal. There's not too much to read into that because there are always certain projects that ramp up and ramp down.

[Analyst]: Client contribution?

Salil Parekh: Margin hiring. Yeah. If you look at client contribution, I think that those changes are very marginal. There's not too much to read in that because there are always certain projects that ramp up, ramp down. That's what it is. It's not anything to note there. In terms of margin tailwinds and headwinds, if you look at, as we get into the second part of the year, which is a seasonally softer part of the year, we have lower working days, furloughs, et cetera, which will come as a headwind. We also have Project Maximus and multiple tracks of Project Maximus that will continue delivering. There is pricing, which is a track there. There is a lean on automation, which continues to deliver value there. There are large portfolio, large programs that we are running. We continue optimizing them.

Speaker #4: So, you know, that's what it is. It's not anything to, you know, note there. In terms of margin tailwinds and headwinds, if you look at, you know, as we get into the second part of the year, which is the seasonally softer part of the year, we have lower working days, furloughs, etc., which will come as a headwind.

Speaker #4: We also have Project Maximus; you know, in multiple tracks of Project Maximus that will continue delivering. There is pricing, which is a track there.

Speaker #4: There is a lean and automation, which is delivering continues to deliver value there. There are large portfolio, large programs that we are running. You know, we continue optimizing them.

Speaker #4: So, there are multiple tracks that we run, which will become a tailwind in a way. The fresher that we have hired, once they start onboarding on the projects, the pyramid starts giving benefit as well.

Salil Parekh: There are multiple tracks that we run there, which will become a tailwind in a way. The freshers that we have hired, once they start getting onboarded on the projects, the pyramid starts giving benefit as well. I think all of those will become a tailwind.

Speaker #4: So, I think all of those will become a tailwind.

Speaker #2: In terms of the acquisitions, how much has it contributed, and how much will it contribute in terms of the guidance that you've given?

[Analyst]: In terms of the acquisitions, how much has it contributed, and how much will it contribute in terms of the guidance that you've given?

Speaker #4: So this quarter, it's only 20 bips out of the 2.2% because two months we already had last quarter to, you know, two months baked in already.

Rishi Basu: This quarter, it's only 20 bps out of the 2.2% because two months we already had last quarter, two months baked in already. That is already baked in the guidance. There's nothing additional that is newly baking in the guidance. The Project Versant that we talked about, the JV in Australia, that will only get baked in as and when we close it.

Speaker #4: So that has already baked in in the guidance. There's nothing additional that is newly baking in the guidance. The project versant that we talked about, the JV in Australia, that will only get baked in as and when we close it.

Speaker #3: Thank you.

Speaker #2: In the guidance also, you expected to be around 20 bps in Q3 and Q4?

[Analyst]: In the guidance also, you expect it to be around 20 bps in the Q3 and Q4?

Speaker #4: No, that's already in the run rate, so it's already in the run rate. There's nothing additional that we are baking in from that perspective.

Rishi Basu: No, that's already in the run rate. It's already in the run rate. There's nothing additional that we are baking in from that perspective.

Speaker #2: If one last thing, in terms of, you know, the AI talk that's going on, your larger rival has kind of announced their AI, sorry, your immediate smaller rival has announced AI contribution to the revenue.

[Analyst]: One last thing. In terms of the AI talk that's going on, your larger rival has kind of announced their AI, sorry, your immediate smaller rival has announced AI contribution to the revenue. Could you tell us if you would be looking at anything of this sort this year in the next quarter or fourth quarter? When do you see that happening, if at all?

Speaker #2: Could you tell us if you would be looking at anything of this sort this year in the next quarter or fourth quarter? And when do you see that happening, if at all?

Speaker #4: So, there, our focus has been to mainly share what we are doing on AI externally, and that's what we are doing. We, of course, track all of that internally.

Salil Parekh: Our focus has been to mainly share what we are doing on AI externally. That's what we are doing. We, of course, track all of that internally. As the right time comes, we will start to share that externally.

Speaker #4: And as the right time comes, we will start to share that externally.

Speaker #3: Thank you. The next question is from Jasbhartiya from Mint.

Rishi Basu: Thank you.

Salil Parekh: The next question is from Vibhor Singhal from Mint.

Speaker #5: Good evening. Just a couple of questions. As per your AI strategy, would you continue with the current asset-light model of embedding AI in your software services, or are you looking at entering the AI infrastructure play and probably deploying huge amounts of capital?

[Analyst]: Good evening. Just a couple of questions. As per your AI strategy, would you continue with the current asset-light model of embedding AI in your software services, or are you looking at entering the AI infrastructure play and probably deploying huge amounts of capital? Second question, as part of the legacy modernization deals, are you seeing more business on a net-net basis because of AI tools being used to modernize those applications?

Speaker #5: Second question: As part of the legacy modernization deals, are you seeing more business on a net-net basis because of AI tools being used to modernize those applications?

Speaker #4: So on the modernization front, I think, in fact, modernization is a huge opportunity because of AI. What's happening with modernization is, in the past, without the AI tools, you could do modernization, but clients needed a longer time horizon.

Salil Parekh: On the modernization first, I think, in fact, modernization is a huge opportunity because of AI. What's happening with modernization is in the past, without the AI tools, you could do modernization, but clients needed a longer time horizon. With some of the AI tools, that time horizon becomes less. As a consequence, the ROI for the client on that program is much better. What we anticipate now is as the AI tools mature, we will see more and more of them being deployed on the modernization programs. On the first part, I think we are comfortable with the strategy that we have today here.

Speaker #4: With some of the AI tools, the time horizon becomes less. And as a consequence, the ROI for the client on that program is much better.

Speaker #4: So what we anticipate now is that, as the AI tools mature, we will see more and more of them being deployed in the modernization programs.

Speaker #4: On the first spot, I think we are comfortable with the strategy that we have today.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Jo. The next question is from Veena Mani from The Times of India.

Rishi Basu: Thank you, Jayesh. The next question is from Veena Manni from The Times of India.

Speaker #2: Good evening, gentlemen. I want to understand, in the backdrop of the H1B issue, that for the last few years, Infosys has been strengthening its nearshore centers.

[Analyst]: Good evening, gentlemen. I want to understand in the backdrop of the H-1B issue. For the last few years itself, Infosys has been strengthening its nearshore centers. If you could give me a sense on how it has grown, and at this point in time, how many of your employees are based in nearshore locations? What is your nearshore strategy going to be, given that now the U.S. has completely made H-1B norms a lot more stricter now? Also, you talked about the mega deal. If you could give us a sense of which sector it is and what is the AI element embedded in it? On the fresher hiring, you mentioned 12K. Out of them, what proportion of the freshers are premium talent in the sense that they're already skilled in something and not just vanilla talent?

Speaker #2: If you could give me a sense of how it has grown, and at this point in time, how many of your employees are based in nearshore locations?

Speaker #2: And what is your nearshore strategy going to be given that now the U.S. has completely made H-1B norms a lot more stricter now? Also, you talked about the mega deal.

Speaker #2: If you could give us a sense of which sector it is and what the AI element embedded in it is? And on the fresher hiring, you mentioned 12K.

Speaker #2: Out of them, what proportion of the freshers are premium talent in the sense that they are already skilled in something and not just vanilla talent?

Speaker #4: So, on the mega deal first, I think we've already announced it. It's with the UK NHS, that's the one you're referring to. We made the announcement just after the close of the quarter.

Salil Parekh: On the mega deal first, I think we've already announced it. It's with UK NHS. That's the one you're referring to. We made the announcement just after the close of the quarter. It's a complete transformation of what they're doing. We're supporting it with many new technologies, and AI is very much part of it. It's a huge program in the way that they have trusted us to deliver it. We work with many different partners to make sure that all of this is delivered effectively for them. It's just the start. As we go through it, more of that will become public. On the nearshore, nearshore has been a huge success for us. Many years ago, we started the approach within our strategy of localization in each of our geographies, in Europe, in Australia, in the U.S. That has really matured a lot.

Speaker #4: It's a complete transformation of what they're doing. We're supporting it with many new technologies, and AI is very much a part of it. It's a huge program in the way that they have trusted us to deliver it.

Speaker #4: And we work with many different partners to make sure that all of this is delivered effectively for them. But it's just the start. As we go through it, more of that will become public.

Speaker #4: On the nearshore, so nearshore is being a huge success for us. Many years ago, we started the approach within our strategy of localization in each of our geographies.

Speaker #4: So, in Europe, in Australia, in the U.S., that has really matured a lot. Part of that is we are hiring local people in each of the geographies, and part of that is we are building the nearshore centers, whether those are in the U.S. and around the U.S., like Canada or Mexico, or other places in Latin America.

Salil Parekh: Part of that is we are hiring local people in each of the geographies. Part of that is we are building the nearshore centers, whether those are in the U.S. and around the U.S., like Canada or Mexico or other places in Latin America or in Europe and so on. That part has really gone extremely well. We feel quite confident that will scale even further with all the changes.

Speaker #4: Or in Europe, and so on. So that part has really gone extremely well, and we feel quite confident that it will scale even further with all the changes.

Speaker #3: Here's a question on fresher hiring.

Rishi Basu: The question on fresher hiring.

Speaker #4: Yeah, so on the freshers, you know, we don't really split out how many of them are higher skilled and how many of them are in the regular skills.

Salil Parekh: Yeah. On the freshers, we don't really split out how many of them are higher skills and how many of them are the regular skills. Every fresher will go through the certain trainings, depending on the requirement and depending on the skill set. We will execute on that.

Speaker #4: But every fresher will go through certain trainings, you know, depending on the requirements and depending on the skill set. So we will execute on that.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Veena. The next question is from Rukmini Rao from Fortune India.

Rishi Basu: Thank you, Veena. The next question is from Rukmini Rao from Fortune India.

Speaker #2: Salil, you know, at the board level, wanted to understand, in, you know, extreme uncertain conditions where you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow.

[Analyst]: Salil, at the board level, wanted to understand in extreme uncertain conditions where you don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, for leaders, what is it sort of what kind of drawing is happening at the boardroom table on how to deal with it? Also, is there some sort of additions to your contingency plans? The other one was you have also disclosed the DOJ investigation happening on H-1B, and you are also internally investigating. Some sense of clarity on what is happening, the kind of inquiry that you're doing within the company. Also, on the AI piece with the partnerships that all of you are all doing with hyperscalers, looking at what happened with Deloitte in terms of these partnerships, right?

Speaker #2: For leaders, what is it sort of, what kind of drawing is happening at the boardroom table on how to deal with it? And also, you know, is there some sort of additions to your contingency plans?

Speaker #2: The other one was, you were also disclosed the DOJ investigation happening on H-1B, and you were also internally investigating. Some sense of clarity on what you what is happening, the kind of inquiry that you're doing within the company.

Speaker #2: And also, on the AI piece, with the partnerships that all of you are doing with hyperscalers, looking at what happened with Deloitte in terms of these partnerships, right?

Speaker #2: And given that these technologies are still so newer, is what sort of indemnity comes in these contracts where if something goes wrong with, let's say, any of the hyperscaler platforms that you're working on, do I mean, is the entire risk on you, or do they also take up any risk?

[Analyst]: Given that these technologies are still so newer, what sort of indemnity comes in these contracts where if something goes wrong with, let's say, any of the hyperscaler platforms that you're working on, I mean, is the entire risk on you, or do they also take up any risk? Because if things go wrong, it can be huge monetary risk that can be posed to any of the players. Thank you.

Speaker #2: Because if things go wrong, it can be, you know, a huge monetary risk that can be posed to any of the players. Thank you.

Speaker #4: So on the first one, I think, you know, we are fortunate with our board to have people, of course, with Nandan there, who are really very experienced in looking at global situations and looking at things over the years.

Salil Parekh: On the first one, I think we are fortunate with our board to have people, of course, with Nandan there, who are really very experienced in looking at global situations and looking at things over the years. The board is quite well prepared. The type of environment is different. Equally, the board is well prepared to understand and work with what those uncertainties are. The board looks at different ways and scenarios of what could play out, not from a quarterly business perspective, but much more from how we should look at overall. We, of course, have a risk committee that works extremely well. In that, many of these different scenarios are looked at carefully and evaluated on a regular basis, with a lot of attention, as I said, with someone like Nandan being on the board and many of the other board members that we have.

Speaker #4: So the board is quite well prepared. The type of environment is different, but equally, the board is well prepared to understand and work with what those uncertainties are.

Speaker #4: The board looks at different ways and scenarios of what could play out. Not from a quarterly business perspective, but much more from how we should look at overall.

Speaker #4: We, of course, have a risk committee that works extremely well. In that committee, many of these different scenarios are looked at carefully and evaluated on a regular basis.

Speaker #4: But with a lot of attention, as I said, with someone like Nandan being on the board and many of the other board members that we have.

Speaker #4: On the partnerships, there are a lot of new things happening in AI. The questions that you ask regarding liabilities and so on are still not fully clarified from a legal perspective.

Salil Parekh: On the partnerships, there are a lot of new things happening in AI. The questions that you ask on liabilities and so on are still not fully clarified from a legal perspective. We have been quite clear and careful in making sure that we can take on the responsibility for what we have control for. Beyond that, it's difficult to. Whether it's in a discussion with a client or with a partner, that's the sort of guideline that we use. On the investigation, we have no comments at this stage.

Speaker #4: So we've been quite clear and careful in making sure that we can take on the responsibility for what we have control over. Beyond that, it's difficult to.

Speaker #4: So, whether it's in a discussion with a client or with a partner, that's the sort of guideline that we use. And on the investigation, we have no comments at this stage.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Rukmini. The next question is from Sanjana from The Hindu Business Line.

Rishi Basu: Thank you, Rukmini. The next question is from Sanjana from The Hindu Business Line.

Speaker #2: Good evening, gentlemen. I just wanted to understand, you've made quite a few acquisitions in this calendar year alone. Could you provide some commentary on the kind of organic moves you are examining and the contributions from such moves to the overall growth?

[Analyst]: Good evening, gentlemen. I just wanted to understand, you've made quite a few acquisitions in this calendar year alone. Some commentary on the kind of organic moves you are examining and contributions from such moves to the overall growth. Also, some of your peers, as well as you, who announced a mega deal in the public sector, some of your peers are also announcing a lot of deals. Do you think that you will be examining this particular sector more closely across your geographies? Also, pertaining to the recent buyback announcement, if you could elaborate on the contours of the announcement, what was the size? Sorry, how was the size and the pricing determined? Also, some commentary on the outlook for H2 FY 2026. Thank you.

Speaker #2: And also, you know, some of your peers, as well as you, who announced the mega deal in the public sector. Some of your peers are also announcing a lot of deals.

Speaker #2: Do you think that you will be examining this particular sector more closely across your geographies? And also, pertaining to the recent buyback announcement, if you could elaborate on the contours of the announcement. What was the size?

Speaker #2: Sorry, how was the size and the pricing determined? And also, some commentary on the outlook for H2 FY26. Thank you.

Speaker #4: Okay, let me start with those I think on the public sector first. We've always had good attention to it, and now we are even more focused on it in different markets.

Salil Parekh: OK. Let me start with those. I think on the public sector first, we've always had a good attention to it. Now we are even more focused on it in different markets. We've done pretty well in the public sector in the Australian market. We have a pretty decent small business in the U.S. market. With this, we start to expand more in the UK market. We absolutely have a focus on it. We also find the public sector is opening up to this sort of change and the sort of capabilities that we bring that they have much more interest to. Of course, in India itself, we do, I think, quite incredible work with the income tax, with the GSTN, and so on. We have pretty good experience in that, which we can leverage now globally. Are the inorganic?

Speaker #4: We've done pretty well in the public sector in the Australian market. We have a pretty decent small business in the U.S. market, and with this, we start to expand more in the U.K. market.

Speaker #4: So we absolutely have a focus on it. We also find the public sector is opening up to this sort of change and the sort of capabilities that we can bring that they have much more interest in.

Speaker #4: Of course, in India itself, we do, I think, quite incredible work with the income tax, with the GSTN, and so on. So we have pretty good experience in that, which we can leverage now globally.

Speaker #4: What was the... Are they inorganic? I think our focus is very much on making sure that we have a business that's growing well organically, and then we have a strategic view on what we should look at in terms of acquisitions.

Salil Parekh: I think our focus is very much on making sure that we have a business that's growing well organically. We have a strategic view on what we should look at in terms of acquisitions. Acquisitions are the main driver in that sense of our growth. Where we see something that can add to our capability, either in an industry or in a skill area, like a service line, or in a geography where we want to expand, those are the ones that we've done, whether it was energy and consulting, whether it was cybersecurity, whether this one, which is focused on digital and AI and cloud. Those are the types of areas we are focused on. We will continue in that sort of a scale where the primary, of course, is we want to work in the organic sense with our clients.

Speaker #4: So, acquisitions are the main driver in that sense of our growth. But where we see something that can add to our capability, either in an industry or in a skill area, like a service line, or in a geography where we want to expand, those are the ones that we've done. Whether it was energy and consulting, whether it was cybersecurity, or whether this one, which is focused on digital, AI, and cloud.

Speaker #4: So those are the types of areas we are focused on, and we will continue in that sort of scale. Where the primary, of course, is we want to work in the organic sense with our clients.

Speaker #3: Thank you.

Speaker #4: The

Speaker #4: The buyback? Yeah, let me just start, and you can add... So the primary approach we have is a capital return policy, and that guides all of our decision-making on that.

[Analyst]: The buyback.

Salil Parekh: The buyback? Let me just start, and you can add. The primary approach, we have a capital return policy. That guides all of our decision-making on that. In that, we have a policy where we return 85% of our free cash flow over a five-year period. We have, in that, each year, a regular dividend, and we have other ways of returning. That is the guideline. Jayesh, you can add more.

Speaker #4: So in that, we have a policy where we return 85% of our free cash flow over a five-year period. In that, we have each year our regular dividend, and then we have other ways of returning.

Speaker #4: So that's the guideline. And then Jayesh, you can add more.

Speaker #3: Yeah, so within that guideline, if you look at, we are in the second year right now. Last year, we had a very strong cash flow on the back of a tax refund that we got.

Rishi Basu: Yeah. Within that guideline, if you look at, we are in the second year right now. Last year, we had a very strong cash flow on the back of a tax refund that we got. We had a headroom in terms of returning additional capital back to the shareholders. As part of that, we looked at various options. One of that was buyback, which is what we executed. The amount is INR 18,000 crore at INR 1,800, which we will be executing. At this point in time, we are awaiting shareholder approval. The postal ballot is already out.

Speaker #3: So, we had headroom in terms of returning additional capital back to the shareholders. As part of that, we looked at various options, and one of those was a buyback, which is what we executed.

Speaker #3: The amount is ?18,000 crores, at ?1,800. We will be executing this at this point in time, and we are awaiting shareholder approval. The postal ballot is already out.

Speaker #4: Thank you.

[Analyst]: Thank you. Salil, Ritu again from CNBC. Since we haven't got a very clear response in terms of your outlook for what happens with these H-1B visas, I mean, very simply, to just answer the question, do you think it's viable to continue sending your employees on these visas? Are you going to participate in the next cycle? Is there going to be a significant pullback, even in this minority number that you currently have?

Speaker #2: Salil, Ritu, again from CNBC. Since we haven't received a very clear response regarding your outlook for what happens with these H-1B visas.

Speaker #2: I mean, very simply, to just answer the question: do you think it's viable to continue sending your employees on these visas? Are you going to participate in the next cycle, or, you know, is there going to be a significant pullback even in this minority number that you currently have?

Speaker #4: So, so there, what I shared earlier, what we have today in the U.S., we have the majority of our people who are not requiring any Infosys sort of immigration support.

Salil Parekh: What I shared earlier, what we have today in the U.S., we have the majority of our people who are not requiring any Infosys sort of immigration support. What we will do in the future will be guided by how we work with our clients, how we scale up what we've been doing there in terms of the discussion we had on nearshore, in the local hiring, the localization that we've been working on. That's the approach that we will take. We've been working with our clients over the last few weeks to make sure that the service delivery continuity, business continuity remains current.

Speaker #4: What we will do in the future will be guided by how we work with our clients, how we scale up, and what we've been doing there in terms of, you know, the discussion we had on nearshore, the local hiring, and the localization that we've been working on.

Speaker #4: So that's the approach that we will take. And we've been working with our clients over the last few weeks to make sure that their service delivery continuity and business continuity remain current.

Speaker #2: Do you discuss these requirements to, you know, pay that large sum of money to send your employees to the U.S. anymore?

[Analyst]: Do you as companies require to pay that large sum of money to send your employees to the U.S. anymore?

Speaker #4: We are on the H visa. The response that I have is what I've shared earlier, and that's what we can share.

Salil Parekh: On the H visa, the response that I have is what I've shared earlier. That's what we can share.

Speaker #3: Thank you.

[Analyst]: Thank you. Salil, you've also invested in the new Egypt subsidiary.

Speaker #2: We've also been talking to... Is that anything got to do with the North Africa market or just, you know, broadly wanted to understand why that. And also, Jayesh, the subcontracting cost has gone up.

Salil Parekh: Egypt.

[Analyst]: Is that anything got to do with the North Africa market? Just broadly wanted to understand why that. Also, Jayesh, the subcontracting cost has gone up. Is that very niche? Is that AI skill sort of guys that you have added to this? Just to understand.

Speaker #2: So is that, you know, very niche? Is that AI skill sort of guys that you have added to this? Just to understand.

Speaker #4: So the Egypt subsidiary

Rishi Basu: The Egypt subsidiary is a particular requirement for a particular project. That is why we had to set up an entity because the client is based in Egypt. We had to send some people, and that's how we expand across the globe. That's where it is. Subcontractor cost keeps going up and down depending on the requirement, how we see the demand environment, and how we have the talent that we fulfill. Part of that could be new age skills, like AI skills, et cetera. Part of that could be the regular demand that we need to meet, depending on the project and the location requirements.

Speaker #3: is a particular requirement for a particular project. That is why we had to set up an entity because the client was based in Egypt, and we had to send some people, and that's how we expand across the globe.

Speaker #3: So that's where it is. Subcontractor costs, you know, keep going up and down depending on the requirement. How we see the demand environment and how we have the talent that we fulfill.

Speaker #3: Part of that could be new age skills like AI skills, et cetera. Part of that could be the regular demand that we need to meet depending on the project and the location requirements.

Speaker #3: Thank you, Rukmini. Thank you. With that, we sorry. Okay, go ahead, please.

[Analyst]: Thank you, Rukmini.

Salil Parekh: Thank you. With that, sorry. OK, go ahead, please.

Speaker #2: Hi. You know, your fact sheet—yes, your volunteer attrition has marginally dropped from the previous quarter. But if you look at it from the previous year, it has increased.

[Analyst]: Hi. Your fact sheet, yes, your voluntary attrition has marginally dropped from the previous quarter. If you look at it from the previous year, it has increased. In this sort of a market, what is leading to this increase in the voluntary attrition? That's number one. The other thing is about your Hubli campus. You were giving your employees Hubli. You've been giving your employees cash incentives to move to the Hubli campus. Have you directly recruited there? From what I hear, Infosys is not directly hiring at the Hubli campus and is going to wait till the next year to get people locally into that campus. If you could tell me a little bit about that.

Speaker #2: In this sort of a market, what is leading to this increase in volunteer attrition? That's number one. The other thing is about your Hubli campus.

Speaker #2: You've been you were giving your employees the Hubli. Been giving your employees sops to, you know, cash incentives to move to the move to the Hubli campus.

Speaker #2: But have you directly recruited there? From what I hear is that Infosys is not directly hiring at the Hubli campus and is going to wait till the next year to get people from locally into that campus.

Speaker #2: If you could tell me a little bit about that.

Speaker #4: Yeah, so in terms of, you know, the campus movement, you always need to have certain senior people, you know, move to those campuses so that you start, you know, meeting the demand requirement.

Rishi Basu: In terms of the campus movement, you always need to have certain senior people move to those campuses so that you start meeting the demand requirement. That is how you incentivize people to move to certain campuses, and then you start building the team below that. That is where we have made incentives to certain employees, certain OHRA employees, to move to those campuses, right? There's nothing beyond that. We have and we will continue hiring locally in the Hubli as well.

Speaker #4: And that's how you incentivize people to move to certain campuses. Then, you start building the team below that. So, that is where we have made incentives for certain employees.

Speaker #4: I don't know how employees to move to those campuses, right? It's not nothing beyond that. And we have, and we will continue hiring locally in the Hubli as well.

Speaker #2: Large hiring locally?

[Analyst]: Started hiring locally?

Speaker #4: We have. We

Speaker #4: We have hired a few people in Hubli. We don't give out numbers.

Rishi Basu: We have hired a few people in Hubli.

Speaker #2: At what seniority?

[Analyst]: At what seniority?

Rishi Basu: We don't give out numbers by campus, so yeah.

Speaker #4: By campus, so yeah. We just did it in January and April. We will decide, you know, so it's generally an annual cycle. We will look at it in the future.

[Analyst]: Yeah, we just did it in January and April.

Rishi Basu: It is generally an annual cycle. We will look at it in the future. We have not decided anything for this year at this point in time.

Speaker #4: We have not decided anything for this year at this point in time.

Speaker #3: Thank you. With that, we come to the end of this Q&A session and the press conference. We thank our friends from the media. Thank you, Salil, and thank you, Jayesh.

[Analyst]: Thank you.

Rishi Basu: With that, we come to the end of this Q&A session and the press conference. We thank our friends from media. Thank you, Salil, and thank you, Jayesh. Before we conclude, please note that the archived webcast of this press conference will be available on the Infosys website and on our YouTube channel later today. Thank you. Please join us for some hi-tea outside.

Speaker #3: Before we conclude, please note that the archived webcast of this press conference will be available on the Infosys website and on our YouTube channel later today.