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<dhhead>CHAIRMANS MESSAGE</dhhead>
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to share with you
the Annual Report of HGS for the financial year 2023-24. The year gone by is
representative of the value creation journey of HGS for all its stakeholders.
In a year of enduring global economic and geo-political volatility, and
the resultant impact on businesses, FY2024 stood as a testament to resilience for HGS. The
last fiscal has indeed been action-packed - from continuing to rebuild the business post
the Healthcare divestment, integrating the three mergers & acquisitions made in the
last ~18 months, developing Al-led solutions, launching B2B broadband enterprise solutions
and expanding into newer segments, all amidst trends of technology announcements every few
months, rising expectations of hyper-personalized experience from consumers and continuing
digital inclusion.
The task was far from simple. The changing environment meant that we
had to cultivate agility, mitigate risk by avoiding over-reliance on specific strategies
and swiftly adjust to thrive. In light of this, the progress your Company has seen, led by
our focus on maximizing operational efficiencies along with innovation and seamless
execution, is all the more impressive.
Value Creation has consistently been the core focus of HGS
philosophy, and we have consistently strived to embody this principle whenever feasible.
Last year, we demonstrated our commitment to shareholders by distributing a special
dividend and executing a bonus issue. We further reinforced this commitment this year by
successfully completing a significant share buyback program, involving the repurchase of
60 lakh shares and delivering substantial rewards to shareholders totaling Rs 1,020 crore.
We also announced a dividend of Rs 7 per share for FY2024. Our dedication to enhancing
shareholder value remains steadfast, as we continue to proactively undertake initiatives
geared towards value creation and timely rewards for our shareholders.
In our quest to Value Creation for shareholders, HGS continues to
explore organic & inorganic opportunities with significant growth potential to add to
its existing portfolio. The Board, time and again, has demonstrated its Value Creation
prowess, a case in point being the divestiture of the Healthcare BPM vertical, followed by
the recent acquisitions viz, TekLink and Diversify. Both these entities have exceeded
expectations with a strong performance, as reflected in their revenue and EBIDTA growth
rates. The synergies realized from these acquisitions have been instrumental in enhancing
our capabilities and offerings. Moving forward, we are prioritizing the utilization of
these synergies into cross-sell and up-sell avenues for our technology services within the
client base of both TekLink and Diversify. The favorable reception we have received,
especially from the Australian and US markets, serves as a strong source of encouragement.
Your Company's HRO Division is growing and provides services to leading
marquee organizations across all sectors and is most preferred by leading multinational
banks, financial institutions and service providers. It is also one of India's largest
service provider of HR Services.
In FY2023, we successfully merged the digital media business of
NXTDIGITAL Ltd (NDL) as part of our strategic initiative to consolidate our digital
business ventures within the Hinduja Group. Our goal was to foster synergies between our
technology services and digital media segments to create a global telecom and media
ecosystem at your Company to serve both B2B and B2C segments in the next few years,
building on emerging technologies seamlessly. The launch of CelerityX, and more notably
it's flagship products NetX and OneX, reflect the synergy and the oppprtunities being
created by the merged entities - for not just domestic, but global growth.
The launch of NetX, a simplified, always-on enterprise network
connectivity solution, marked a remarkable journey, with the solution being effectively
operationalized during the inauguration of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a historic
moment for the nation. The instance vividly demonstrated the synergistic potential between
our BPM and digital
media businesses, leveraging advanced technologies such as artificial
intelligence, analytics, and automation.
Looking ahead, it is imperative for us to remain vigilant and
adaptable, leveraging our strengths to navigate potential challenges and seize emerging
opportunities in the evolving global economy. In the next few years, we will focus on
three key areas as part of a growth acceleration roadmap -
drive growth and margins
verticalization to deepen client relationships and expand the
addressable market
invest in newer capabilities and next-generation delivery models
to push non-linearity
In closing, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all the
esteemed members of our Board, dedicated employees, supportive shareholders, valued
clients, and trusted partners who have consistently stood by the Company, offering
wholehearted support to our operations over the years. Your unwavering commitment has been
instrumental in our journey of growth, success, and the fulfillment of stakeholders'
aspirations.
Together, we are poised to navigate through new challenges, embrace
opportunities, and achieve new heights of excellence. May good health and prosperity
accompany each of you in the year ahead, as we collectively strive towards greater
milestones.
Yours sincerely,
Ashok P. Hinduja
Chairman, HGS