WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Month of August 2008
Commission
File Number 001-32945
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in the charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of Registrants name into English)
Jersey, Channel Islands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex
Pirojshanagar, Vikroli (W)
Mumbai 400 079, India
+91-22-6797-6100
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form
20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F þ Form 40-F o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by
Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form
is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ¨ No þ
If Yes is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to registrant in connection with Rule
12g3-2(b): Not applicable.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Other Events
On or
about August 14, 2008, WNS (Holdings) Limited (the Company) issued a press release
announcing details of its annual general meeting to be held in Jersey, Channel Islands, on Monday,
September 15, 2008 and distributed to its shareholders a notice of the annual general meeting, the
proxy statement for the annual general meeting and the form of proxy. A copy of the press release,
the notice of annual general meeting, the proxy statement and form of proxy are attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2, Exhibit 99.3 and Exhibit 99.4, respectively. A copy of the notice of
the annual general meeting and voting card provided by the depositary of the Companys American
Depositary Shares (ADSs) to holders of ADSs are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.5 and Exhibit 99.6,
respectively.
Exhibits
99.1 |
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Press release of the Company, dated August 14, 2008. |
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99.2 |
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The Companys notice of annual general meeting to ordinary shareholders, dated August 13,
2008. |
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99.3 |
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The Companys proxy statement for the annual general meeting of ordinary shareholders to be
held on September 15, 2008. |
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99.4 |
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Form of proxy for use by ordinary shareholders.
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99.5 |
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Depositarys notice of annual general meeting to holders
of ADSs, dated August 13, 2008. |
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99.6 |
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Voting card for use by ADS holders. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunder duly authorized.
Date:
August 14, 2008
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WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
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By: |
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/s/
Alok Misra |
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Name: |
Alok Misra |
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Title: |
Group Chief Financial Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits
99.1 |
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Press release of the Company, dated August 14, 2008. |
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99.2 |
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The Companys notice of annual general meeting to ordinary shareholders, dated August 13,
2008. |
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99.3 |
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The Companys proxy statement for the annual general meeting of ordinary shareholders to be
held on September 15, 2008. |
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99.4 |
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Form of proxy for use by ordinary shareholders. |
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99.5 |
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Depositarys notice of annual general meeting to holders
of ADSs, dated August 13, 2008. |
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99.6 |
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Voting card for use by ADS holders. |
EX-99.1 Press release
Exhibit 99.1
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CONTACT:
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Investors: |
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Alan Katz |
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Senior VP Investor Relations |
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WNS (Holdings) Limited |
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+1 212 599 6960 |
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ir@wnsgs.com |
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Media: |
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Al Bellenchia |
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The Torrenzano Group |
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+1 212 681 1700, ext. 156 |
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abellenchia@torrenzano.com |
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED ANNOUNCES
DETAILS OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
MUMBAI, India and NEW YORK, August 14, 2008 WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS), the parent
company of WNS Global Services, a leading offshore business process outsourcing (BPO) provider,
announced that its annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on Monday, September 15,
2008, beginning at 1.00 pm, GMT, at 12 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel Islands.
The Companys annual report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2008 (the Annual
Report), containing its annual consolidated financial statements for the financial year ended
March 31, 2008 and the auditors report thereon, was filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 1, 2008. The Company distributed the notice of annual general meeting, proxy
statement and form of proxy on or about August 14, 2008.
The Annual Report, notice of the annual general meeting, proxy statement and form of proxy are
available on the investor relation page of the Companys corporate website, www.wnsgs.com.
Shareholders may also obtain a copy of the Annual Report, free of charge, by sending a written
request to our registered office or by sending an e-mail to ssd@capitaregistrars.com,
attention Sarah Dawes.
About WNS
WNS is a leading provider of offshore business process outsourcing services. We provide
comprehensive data, voice and analytical services that are underpinned by our expertise in our
target industry sectors. We transfer the execution of the business processes of our clients, which
are typically companies located in Europe and North America, to our delivery centers located
primarily in India. We provide high quality execution of client processes, monitor these processes
against multiple performance metrics, and seek to improve them on an ongoing basis.
Our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more information, please visit our website
at www.wnsgs.com.
EX-99.2 Notice of annual general meeting
Exhibit 99.2
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be Held on September 15, 2008
To our Shareholders:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an annual general meeting (the Annual General Meeting) of the
shareholders of WNS (Holdings) Limited, a company incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands (the
Company), will be held at our registered office at 12, Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT,
Channel Islands on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 1.00 pm for the purpose of considering the
following ordinary business, as more fully described in the Proxy Statement accompanying this
notice, and if thought fit adopting the following resolutions:
ORDINARY BUSINESS
The following resolutions will be proposed as ordinary resolutions:
Resolution 1 (Annual audited accounts)
THAT the audited accounts of the Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2008, including the
report of the auditors, be and hereby are adopted.
Resolution 2 (Re-appointment of auditors)
THAT Ernst & Young be and hereby is re-appointed as the Companys auditors until the next annual
general meeting of the Company to be held in respect of financial year ending March 31, 2009.
Resolution 3 (Auditors remuneration)
THAT a maximum sum of $2 million be and hereby is approved as being available for the payment of
the remuneration of Ernst & Young as the Companys auditors for their audit services to be rendered
in respect of financial year ending March 31, 2009 and that the Board of Directors or a committee
thereof is authorised to determine the remuneration payable from time to time to the auditors
during this period subject to the maximum sum stipulated.
Resolution 4 (Re-election of class II Director)
THAT Mr. Ramesh Shah be and hereby is re-elected to hold office as a class II Director from the
date of the Annual General Meeting
Resolution 5 (Re-election of class II Director)
THAT Mr. Neeraj Bhargava be and hereby is re-elected to hold office as a class II Director from the
date of the Annual General Meeting
1
Resolution 6 (Directors remuneration)
THAT:
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an aggregate sum of $3 million be and hereby is approved as being available for
the payment of remuneration and other benefits (excluding the making of awards of
options and restricted stock units referred to in (b) below) to the Directors of the
Company, to be applied as the Directors may decide in their discretion, for the period
from the Annual General Meeting until the next annual general meeting of the Company to
be held in respect of financial year ending March 31, 2009; and |
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as a further part of the Directors remuneration, the making of awards of
options and restricted stock units (Awards) under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to
Directors by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors in its discretion for
the period from the Annual General Meeting until the next annual general meeting of the
Company to be held in respect of financial year ending March 31, 2009 be and hereby is
approved, provided that the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares in the capital
of the Company that may be issued or transferred pursuant to any Awards made or to be
made to the Directors pursuant to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan of the Company is
limited to 3 million. |
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DATED: August 13, 2008
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
Capita Secretaries Limited
Company Secretary
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Registered Office:
12 Castle Street
St. Helier
Jersey JE2 3RT
Channel
Islands |
NOTES:
1. |
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The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on August 11, 2008 as the record date
for determining those holders of our ordinary shares (collectively, our Shareholders) who
will be entitled to receive copies of this Notice of Annual General Meeting, the accompanying
Form of Proxy, Proxy Statement and the notice of availability of the Companys annual report
on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31, 2008 (the Annual Report). |
2. |
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A Shareholder is a person whose name appears on our Register of Members as a holder of our
ordinary shares. |
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A Shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting is entitled to
appoint a proxy or proxies to attend the Annual General Meeting and, on a poll, to vote on his
behalf. A proxy need not be a Shareholder. A Form of Proxy, which should be completed in
accordance with the instructions printed thereon, is enclosed with this document. The
appointment of a proxy will not prevent a Shareholder from subsequently attending and voting
at the Annual General Meeting in person. |
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4. |
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To be valid, the instrument appointing a proxy or proxies, and any power of attorney or other
authority (e.g. board minutes) under which it is signed (or a notarially certified copy of any
such power or authority), must be deposited at the registered office of the Company (care of
Capita Secretaries Limited) at 12, Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel Islands
(attention: Sarah Dawes) not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the holding of
the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the
proxy proposes to vote. |
5. |
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A proxy may be revoked by: (i) giving the Company notice in writing deposited at the
Companys registered office (care of Capita Secretaries Limited) at 12 Castle Street, St
Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel Islands (attention: Sarah Dawes) before the commencement of
the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the
proxy proposes to vote; (ii) depositing a new Form of Proxy with the Company Secretary before
the commencement of the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the taking of
a poll at which the proxy proposes to vote (although it should be noted that the new Form of
Proxy will only be a valid proxy, as opposed to being capable of revoking an earlier Form of
Proxy, if deposited not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Annual General
Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the proxy proposes to
vote); or (iii) attending in person and voting on a poll. |
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If the Annual General Meeting is adjourned for lack of a quorum, the adjourned meeting will
be held at 1.00 pm on September 22, 2008 at 12 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT,
Channel Islands. Under the Companys Articles of Association, the quorum for the holding of
general meetings is not less than two Shareholders entitled to attend and vote on the business
to be transacted present in person or by proxy and holding ordinary shares conferring not less
than one-third of the total voting rights. |
7. |
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A copy of the Annual Report is available for inspection at the Companys registered office.
In addition, Shareholders will be provided with a copy of the Annual Report, free of charge,
upon request by contacting the Company Secretary, Capita Secretaries Limited, of 12 Castle
Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel Islands (attention: Sarah Dawes, telephone: +44
(0)1534 847204). Shareholders may also access a copy of the Annual Report on the Companys
website at www.wnsgs.com. |
8. |
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Explanatory notes to the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting are
contained in the Proxy Statement which accompanies this Notice of Annual General Meeting. |
3
EX-99.3 Proxy statement for AGM
Exhibit 99.3
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be Held on September 15, 2008
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the Board of Directors
(the Board or the Board of Directors) of WNS (Holdings) Limited, a company incorporated in
Jersey, Channel Islands (the Company or WNS), of proxies for voting at the Companys Annual
General Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual General Meeting) to be held on Monday, September 15,
2008, at 1.00 pm, at the registered office of the Company located at 12 Castle Street, St Helier,
Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel Islands, or any adjournments thereof, for the purposes summarized in the
accompanying Notice of Annual General Meeting and described in more detail in this Proxy Statement.
Shareholders Entitled to Notice of and to Vote at the Annual General Meeting
The Board has fixed the close of business on August 11, 2008 as the date for determining those
holders of ordinary shares (collectively, the Shareholders) who will be entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Annual General Meeting. Copies of the Notice of Annual General Meeting, this Proxy
Statement, the accompanying Form of Proxy appointing a proxy or proxies, and the notice of
availability of the Companys annual report on Form 20-F for the financial year ended March 31,
2008 (the Annual Report) were first mailed to Shareholders on or about August 14, 2008.
Shareholders are advised to read this Proxy Statement carefully prior to returning their Form of
Proxy.
A Shareholder is a person whose name appears on our Register of Members as a holder of our ordinary
shares.
At the close of business on June 30, 2008, there were 42,460,059 ordinary shares issued and
outstanding.
Quorum
No business may be transacted at any general meeting unless a quorum of Shareholders entitled to
vote at the meeting is present. Pursuant to the Articles of Association of the Company, the quorum
for the holding of general meetings is not less than two Shareholders entitled to attend and note
on the business to be transacted present in person or by proxy holding ordinary shares conferring
not less than one-third of the total voting rights. If a quorum is not present, the Annual General
Meeting will be adjourned to 1.00 pm on September 22, 2008 at 12 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey
JE2 3RT, Channel Islands
Proxies
To be valid, the instrument appointing a proxy or proxies, and any power of attorney or other
authority (e.g. board minutes) under which it is signed (or a notarially certified copy of any such
power or authority), must be deposited at the registered office of the Company at 12 Castle Street,
St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel Islands not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the
holding of the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at
which the proxy proposes to vote. A proxy need not be a Shareholder. Shareholders may appoint any
member of the Board or any other person as their proxy. The appointment of a proxy will not prevent
a Shareholder from subsequently attending and voting at the meeting in person.
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A Shareholder may appoint more than one person to act as his proxy and each such person shall act
as proxy for the Shareholder for the number of ordinary shares specified in the instrument
appointing the person as proxy. If a Shareholder appoints more than one person to act as his proxy,
each instrument appointing a proxy shall specify the number of ordinary shares held by the
Shareholder for which the relevant person is appointed his proxy. Each duly appointed proxy has the
same rights as the Shareholder by whom he was appointed to speak at a meeting and vote at a meeting
in respect of the number of ordinary shares held by the Shareholder for which he was appointed as
proxy.
A proxy may be revoked by: (i) giving the Company notice in writing deposited at the Companys
registered office (care of Capita Secretaries Limited, 12 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT,
Channel Islands) before the commencement of the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof
or for the taking of a poll at which the proxy proposes to vote; (ii) depositing a new Form of
Proxy with the Company Secretary before the commencement of the Annual General Meeting or any
adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the proxy proposes to vote (although it
should be noted that the new form of proxy will only be a valid proxy, as opposed to being capable
of revoking an earlier Form of Proxy, if deposited not less than 48 hours before the time appointed
for the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the
proxy proposes to vote); or (iii) attending in person and voting on a poll. No instrument
appointing a proxy shall be revoked by the appointing Shareholder attending and participating in a
meeting, unless the appointing Shareholder votes on a poll at the meeting in respect of the
ordinary shares for which the relevant proxy is appointed his proxy.
Voting
On a show of hands, every Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall have one vote and on a
poll, every Shareholder present in person or by proxy shall have one vote for each ordinary share
held or represented. On a poll, a Shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not use all his
votes or cast all the votes he uses in the same way. A resolution put to the vote of Shareholders
at the Annual General Meeting will be decided on a show of hands unless a poll is demanded by the
Chairman of the Annual General Meeting or a Shareholder present in person or by proxy and entitled
to vote at the Annual General Meeting. In the case of joint holders only one of them may vote and
in the absence of election as to who is to vote, the vote of the holder whose name appears first in
order in the Register of Members, whether in person or by proxy, will be accepted to the exclusion
of the votes of the other joint holders.
Ordinary shares represented by a duly executed instrument appointing a proxy or proxies that is
deposited with the Company at its registered office (at least 48 hours before the time appointed
for the Annual General Meeting) will be voted at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with
Shareholders instructions contained in the instrument.
Resolutions 1 to 6 are proposed as ordinary resolutions. On a show of hands, each of the ordinary
resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting will be duly passed by the affirmative
vote of a simple majority of Shareholders present in person or by proxy and voting at the Annual
General Meeting. If a poll is demanded in the manner described above, each of the ordinary
resolution(s) to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting for which voting by poll is demanded
will be duly passed by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of votes cast at the Annual
General Meeting for each ordinary share held or represented, with each Shareholder present in
person or by proxy having one vote for each ordinary share held or represented. In the event of an
equality of votes, whether upon a show of hands or on a poll, the Chairman of the Annual General
Meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.
Cost of Soliciting Proxies
The entire cost of the solicitation of proxies for the Annual General Meeting will be borne by WNS.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS
Shareholders will be requested to vote on the following proposals at the Annual General Meeting:
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Adoption of the annual audited accounts of the Company for the financial year ended March 31,
2008, together with the auditors report; |
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Re-appointment of the Companys auditors; |
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3. |
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Fixation of auditors remuneration; |
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4. |
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Re-election of the class II Director, Mr. Ramesh Shah; |
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Re- election of the class II Director, Mr. Neeraj Bhargava; and |
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Approval of Directors remuneration for the financial
year ending March 31, 2009. |
PROPOSAL NO. 1
THAT the audited accounts of the Company for the financial year ended March 31, 2008, including the
report of the auditors, be and hereby are adopted.
A companys auditors are required by the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 (the Jersey Companies Act)
to make a report to the companys shareholders on the accounts examined by them. The auditors
report must state whether in their opinion the accounts have been properly prepared in accordance
with the law and in particular whether a true and fair view is given.
The Companys financial statements included in the Annual Report have been prepared in conformity
with United States generally accepted accounting principles and are accompanied by the auditors
report from Ernst & Young. Shareholders are requested to adopt the audited accounts of the Company
for the year ended March 31, 2008, together with the auditors report.
The Board recommends a vote FOR the adoption of the audited accounts of WNS for the financial
year ended March 31, 2008, together with the auditors report.
PROPOSAL NO. 2
THAT Ernst & Young be and hereby is re-appointed as the Companys auditors until the next annual
general meeting of the Company to be held in respect of financial year ending March 31, 2009.
A public company is required by law at each annual general meeting to appoint auditors to hold
office from the conclusion of that meeting to the conclusion of the next annual general meeting.
Shareholders are requested to approve the re-appointment of Ernst & Young as the Companys auditors
in respect of the financial year ending March 31, 2009 and until the annual general meeting of the
Company to be held in 2009.
The Board, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee of the Board, recommends a vote FOR the
re-appointment of Ernst & Young as auditors of the Company until the next annual general meeting of
the Company to be held in respect of financial year ending March 31, 2009.
PROPOSAL NO. 3
THAT a
maximum sum of $2 million be and hereby is approved as being available for the payment of
the remuneration of Ernst & Young as the Companys auditors for their audit services to be rendered
in respect of financial year ending March 31, 2009 and that the Board or a committee thereof is
authorised to determine the remuneration payable from time to time to the auditors during this
period subject to the maximum sum stipulated.
Under the
articles of association of the Company, the shareholders in general meeting fix the
remuneration of the auditors. The level of fees to be charged by the auditors for audit services
to be rendered in respect of the financial year ending March 31, 2009 is not known. Consequently,
the approval of the Shareholders in a general meeting is sought for a maximum sum of $2 million to
be available for payment of remuneration of the auditors for audit services to be rendered during
the financial year ending March 31, 2009. The precise
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amount to be paid to the auditors for audit services, subject to a maximum fee of $2 million will
be determined by the Board or a committee thereof.
The Board upon the recommendation of the audit committee recommends a vote FOR the fixation of
auditors remuneration for the audit services to be rendered in respect of fiscal 2009.
PROPOSAL NO. 4
THAT Mr. Ramesh Shah be and hereby is re-elected to hold office as a class II Director from the
date of the Annual General Meeting
Mr. Ramesh Shah is currently the class II Director of the Company. The period of office of class
II Director expires at this Annual General Meeting. Accordingly, it is proposed that Mr. Ramesh
Shah be re-elected as class II Director.
The biography of Mr. Ramesh Shah and a complete listing of all our Directors are provided in this
Proxy Statement.
The Board recommends a vote FOR the re-election of Mr. Ramesh Shah to the Board of Directors.
PROPOSAL NO. 5
THAT Mr. Neeraj Bhargava be and hereby is re-elected to hold office as a class II Director from
the date of the Annual General Meeting
Mr. Neeraj Bhargava is currently the class II Director of the Company. The period of office of
class II Director expires at this Annual General Meeting. Accordingly, it is proposed that Mr.
Neeraj Bhargava be re-elected as class II Director.
The biography of Mr. Neeraj Bhargava and a complete listing of all our Directors are provided in
this Proxy Statement.
The Board recommends a vote FOR the re-election of Mr. Neeraj Bhargava to the Board of Directors.
PROPOSAL NO. 6
THAT:
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an aggregate sum of $3 million be and hereby is approved as being available for the payment
of remuneration and other benefits (excluding the making of awards of options and restricted
stock units referred to in (b) below) to the Directors of the Company, to be applied as the
Directors may decide in their discretion, for the period from the Annual General Meeting until
the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in respect of financial year ended
March 31, 2009; and |
(b) |
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as a further part of the Directors remuneration, the making of awards of options and
restricted stock units (Awards) under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to Directors by the
compensation committee of the Board in its discretion for the period from the Annual General
Meeting until the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in respect of the
financial year ending March 31, 2009 be and hereby is approved, provided that the maximum
aggregate number of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company that may be issued or
transferred pursuant to any Awards made or to be made to the Directors pursuant to the 2006
Incentive Award Plan of the Company is limited to 3 million. |
In accordance with Article 102 of the Articles of Association of the Company, the Company is
requesting Shareholders approval for an aggregate sum of $3 million to be available for the
payment of remuneration and other benefits (excluding the making of Awards pursuant to the
Companys 2006 Incentive Award Plan) and further as part of the Directors remuneration, for Awards
to be granted by the compensation committee of the Board in its discretion in accordance with the
2006 Incentive Award Plan to the Directors of the Company for the period from the Annual General
Meeting until the next annual general meeting of the Company to be
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held in respect of the financial year ending March 31, 2009. The aggregate sum of remuneration and
other benefits (excluding the making of Awards pursuant to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan which were
made in accordance thereof) paid to the Directors for their services rendered during the financial
year ended March 31, 2008 was $1.8.million. Our Directors were granted options to purchase 70,125
ordinary shares and 82,163 restricted share units during fiscal 2008.
The Board recommends a vote FOR the approval of (a) a maximum sum of $3 million as being
available for the payment of Directors remuneration and other benefits (excluding the making of
Awards ) and (b) the making of Awards under the 2006 Stock Incentive Plan to Directors by the
compensation committee of the Board in its discretion (subject to a limit of 3 million) for the
period from the Annual General Meeting until the next annual general meeting of the Company to be
held in respect of during the financial year ending March 31, 2009.
OTHER BUSINESS
The Board does not presently intend to bring any other business before the Annual General Meeting,
and so far as is known to the Board, no matters will be brought before the Annual General Meeting
except as is specified in this Proxy Statement. As to any business that may properly come before
the Annual General Meeting, however, it is intended that proxies, in the form enclosed, will be
voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of those persons voting such proxies.
5
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our board of directors consists of seven directors.
The following table sets forth the name, age (as of June 30, 2008) and position of each of our
directors and executive officers as of the date hereof.
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Name |
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Age |
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Designation |
Directors |
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Ramesh N. Shah
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60 |
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Chairman of the Board |
Neeraj Bhargava
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44 |
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Director and Group Chief Executive Officer |
Jeremy Young
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43 |
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Director |
Eric B. Herr(1)(2)(3)
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60 |
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Director |
Deepak S. Parekh(3)(4)(5)
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63 |
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Director |
Richard O. Bernays(1)(4)(6)
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65 |
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Director |
Anthony Armitage Greener(1)(3)(4)(7)
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68 |
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Director |
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Executive Officers |
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Ramesh N. Shah
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60 |
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Chairman of the Board |
Neeraj Bhargava
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44 |
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Group Chief Executive Officer |
Alok Misra(8)
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41 |
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Group Chief Financial Officer |
Anup Gupta(9)
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|
|
36 |
|
|
Group Chief Operating Officer |
J.J. Selvadurai(10)
|
|
|
49 |
|
|
Managing Director of European Operations |
|
|
|
Notes: |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
|
(2) |
|
Chairman of the Audit Committee. |
|
(3) |
|
Member of the Compensation Committee. |
|
(4) |
|
Member of the Audit Committee. |
|
(5) |
|
Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. |
|
(6) |
|
Chairman of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Bernays was appointed as Chairman of the
Compensation Committee in place of Mr. Shah with effect from July 2007. |
|
(7) |
|
Appointed as a director in June 2007. Sir Anthony was appointed as a member of the Audit
Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee with
effect from July 2007. |
|
(8) |
|
Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer in place of Mr. Zubin Dubash with effect from
February 18, 2008. |
|
(9) |
|
Formerly the Chief Executive Officer Travel Services. Promoted to Group Chief Operating
Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. |
|
(10) |
|
On October 1, 2007, Mr. Selvadurai assumed the position of Managing Director of WNS UK from
Mr. Alan Stephen Dunning. At the same time, the position of Managing Director of WNS UK became
an executive level position and was renamed as Managing Director of European Operations. Mr.
Dunning has since undertaken a senior advisory role to help us further expand our UK and
European businesses. |
In September 2007, we reorganized our corporate structure pursuant to which Anup Gupta, our Group
Chief Operating Officer, assumed the overall responsibility of performing the policy making
functions in respect of all our business units and became in charge of all our business units,
except WNS Assistance, with the assistance of the respective Chief Executive Officer of each
business unit whose roles were correspondingly reduced as compared to their roles prior to the
management reorganization. Ramesh N. Shah remains in
6
charge of, and retains overall responsibility of performing the policy making functions of, WNS
Assistance. The Chief Executive Officers for our Travel Services, BFSI, WNS Assistance, Industrial
and Infrastructure Services, Finance and Accounting Services and Knowledge Services business units
are Ambreesh Mahajan, Arjun Singh, Bernard Donoghue, Manish Sinha, Sulakshana Patankar and Anish
Nanavaty, respectively.
Summarized below is relevant biographical information covering at least the past five years for
each of our directors and executive officers.
Directors
Ramesh N. Shah is our Chairman and was appointed to our board of directors in July 2005. Mr. Shah
is based in New York. In addition to his role as Chairman of our board of directors, he mentors our
North American sales team and manages key external stakeholder relationships. Prior to WNS, he was
the chief executive officer for the retail banking division at GreenPoint Bank and has held senior
positions at American Express, Shearson and Natwest. Mr. Shah received a Master of Business
Administration from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bates College. The
business address for Mr. Shah is 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2515, New York, New York 10170, USA.
Neeraj Bhargava is our co-founder and Group Chief Executive Officer and was appointed to our board
of directors in May 2004. Mr. Bhargava is based in Mumbai, India. Mr. Bhargavas responsibilities
as Group Chief Executive Officer include executing our business strategy and managing the overall
performance and growth of our organization. Mr. Bhargava served as our President and Group Chief
Financial Officer from 2002 until May 2004 when he became our Group Chief Executive Officer. Mr.
Bhargava received a Master of Business Administration from the Stern School of Business, New York
University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from St. Stephens College, Delhi
University. The business address for Mr. Bhargava is Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex, Pirojshanagar,
Vikhroli West, Mumbai 400 079, India.
Jeremy Young was appointed to our board of directors as a nominee of Warburg Pincus in May 2004.
Mr. Young is based in London. He held various positions at Baxter Healthcare International, Booz,
Allen & Hamilton International and Cellular Transplant/ Cytotherapeutics before he joined Warburg
Pincus in 1992. He received a Master of Arts degree in English from Cambridge University and a
Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. He focuses on business services and
is also a director of Fibernet Communications, Warburg Pincus Roaming II S.A and e-Verger Limited.
The business address for Mr. Young is Warburg Pincus International LLC, Almack House, 28 King
Street, St. James, London SW1Y 6QW, England.
Eric B. Herr was appointed to our board of directors in July 2006. Mr. Herr is based in the United
States. He currently serves as the Chairman of the board of directors for Workscape Inc. (since
2005) and on the board of directors of Taleo Corporation (since 2002). He also serves as the
Chairman of the audit committee of Taleo Corporation. From 1992 to 1997, Mr. Herr served as Chief
Financial Officer of Autodesk, Inc. Mr. Herr received a Master of Arts degree in Economics from
Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Kenyon College. The business
address for Mr. Herr is P.O. Box 719, Bristol, NH 03222, USA.
Deepak S. Parekh was appointed to our board of directors in July 2006. Mr. Parekh is based in
Mumbai, India. He currently serves as the Chairman (since 1993) and Chief Executive Officer of
Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited, a housing finance company in India which he joined
in 1978. Mr. Parekh is the non-executive Chairman (since 1994) of one of our clients,
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Mr. Parekh is also a director of several Indian public
companies such as Siemens Ltd. (since 2003), HDFC Chubb General Insurance Co. Ltd. (since 2002),
HDFC Standard Life Insurance Co. Ltd. (since 2000), HDFC Asset Management Co. Ltd (since 2000),
Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd (since 1985), Castrol India Ltd. (since 1997),
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (since 1994), Infrastructure Development Finance Co. Ltd
(since 1997), Hindustan Lever Ltd. (since 1997), Hindustan Oil Exploration Corporation Ltd. (since
1994), Mahindra & Mahinda Ltd. (since 1990) and The Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. (since 2000). Mr. Parekh
received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Bombay University and holds a Financial Chartered
Accountant degree from England and Wales. The business address for Mr. Parekh is Housing
Development Finance Corporation Limited, Ramon House, H.T. Parekh Marg, 169 Backbay Reclamation,
Churchgate, Mumbai 400020, India.
7
Richard O. Bernays was appointed to our board of directors in November 2006 and is based in London.
Prior to his retirement in 2001, Mr. Bernays held various senior positions at Old Mutual, plc, a
London-based international financial services company, and most recently served as Chief Executive
Officer of Old Mutual International. Prior to that, he was with Jupiter Asset Management in 1996,
Hill Samuel Asset Management from 1991 to 1996, and Mercury Asset Management from 1971 to 1992. Mr.
Bernays currently serves in several board roles, including as non-executive chairman of Hermes
Pensions Management and as the non-executive director of Throgmorton Trust plc, Gartmore Global
Trust plc, Impax Environmental Markets Trust plc, Martin Curie Income and Growth Trust, Majid Al
Futaim Trust and Charter European Trust plc. Mr. Bernays is also a member of the Supervisory Board
of the National Provident Life. He received a Masters of Arts degree from Trinity College, Oxford
University. The business address of Mr. Bernays is Lloyds
Chambers, 1 Portsoken Street, London E1 8H2, England.
Sir Anthony Armitage Greener was appointed to our board of directors in June 2007. Sir Anthony is
based in London and is the Chairman of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. He was the
Deputy Chairman of British Telecom from 2001 to 2006 and the Chairman of Diageo plc from 1997 to
2000. Prior to that, Sir Anthony was the Chairman and Chief Executive of Guinness plc from 1992 to
1997 and the Chief Executive Officer of Dunhill Holdings from 1974 to 1986. Sir Anthony is
presently a director of Williams Sonoma. Sir Anthony was honored with a knighthood in 1999 for his
services to the beverage industry. Sir Anthony is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of
Management Accountants, and Vice-President of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. The business
address of Sir Anthony is 83, Piccadilly, London W1J 8QA, England.
Executive Officers
Ramesh N. Shah is the Chairman of our board of directors. Please see Directors above for Mr.
Shahs biographical information.
Neeraj Bhargava is our Group Chief Executive Officer. Please see Directors above for Mr.
Bhargavas biographical information.
Alok Misra serves as our Group Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Misra is based in Mumbai, India and
joined WNS in February 2008. Mr. Misras responsibilities as Group Chief Financial Officer include
finance and accounting, legal and regulatory compliance and risk management. Prior to joining WNS,
Mr. Misra was group chief financial officer at MphasiS (part of Electronic Data Systems) and
financial controller at ITC Limited. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
India. Mr. Misra received an honors degree in commerce from Calcutta University. The business
address for Mr. Misra is Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex, Pirojshanagar, Vikhroli West, Mumbai 400
079, India.
Anup Gupta serves as Group Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Gupta is based in Mumbai and is responsible
for managing the performance of our business units and enabling units which are our non-business
support units such as risk management, facilities procurement, administration and human resource.
Prior to his appointment as our Group Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Gupta served as the Chief
Executive Officer of our travel services business unit, and has led many new initiatives since
joining our company in 2002. Prior to that, Mr. Gupta was a Principal at eVentures India, a News
Corp. and SoftBank backed-venture fund, where he developed many companies in the offshore services
areas. Previously, Mr. Gupta was a management consultant with Booz Allen & Hamilton. Mr. Gupta
received a Masters of Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and
a Bachelor of Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur where he graduated at
the top of his class. The business address for Mr. Gupta is Gate 4, Godrej & Boyce Complex,
Pirojshanagar, Vikhroli West, Mumbai 400 079, India.
J.J. Selvadurai is Managing Director of European Operations. Prior to that, he was the Chief
Executive Officer of our enterprise services business unit until September 2007. Mr. Selvadurai is
a business process outsourcing industry specialist with over 20 years of experience in offshore
outsourcing. He pioneered such services in Sri Lanka and set up and managed many processing centers
in the Philippines, India, Pakistan and the UK. Mr. Selvadurai is a certified electronic data
management and processing trainer. Prior to joining WNS in 2002, Mr. Selvadurai was Asia Managing
Director (Business Process Outsourcing services) of Hays plc, a FTSE 100 B2B services company. Mr. Selvadurai is certified in data management and is a member of the data processing institute. The
business address for Mr. Selvadurai is Ash House, Fairfield Avenue, Staines, Middlesex, TW18 4AN,
England.
8
COMPENSATION
Our Compensation Philosophy and Practice
The following contains a description and analysis of the compensation arrangements and decisions we
made for our executive officers and other managers for fiscal 2008 and 2007. Other managers refer
to our officers who are holding positions of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or
their equivalent.
General Philosophy
A combination of base salary, performance-based bonus and equity awards (as long-term incentives)
is used to compensate our executive officers and other managers. The compensation for our executive
officers and other managers is designed (a) to be competitive with compensation packages of
comparable information technology and IT-enabled services, or ITES, companies in India,
particularly ITES companies in the BPO sector as we compete directly with these companies for the
same talent-pool to provide services to similar clients; and (b) to retain and attract talent from
the US and Europe which is required to meet our needs as a global BPO company, particularly as all
of our clients are based outside of India.
The information technology and BPO sectors have been leading growth sectors in India in the recent
years and compete with each other for managerial talent required to drive their growth. We, in
turn, routinely adjust our compensation levels in order to attract and retain employees with the
requisite managerial skills and background. We also routinely review compensation packages offered
by peer companies in the countries where our executive officers and other managers are located to
assess our competitiveness. In particular, to serve the needs of our clients in the UK and the US,
we set our compensation levels with a view to be in a competitive position to actively recruit
senior management talent based in these two countries.
In general, at the beginning of each fiscal year, our board of directors sets individual and group
performance targets for our executive officers and other managers. For our executive officers, the
incentive awards, consisting of performance-based bonus and equity award, are linked primarily to
our growth for earnings (net income excluding stock compensation and amortization charges) and
revenue less repair payments and other strategically important targets. For other managers, the
incentive awards are linked primarily to the achievement of the operational goals for the areas of
operations managed by them and, to a lesser extent, to our overall annual performance.
Determination of Compensation
The compensation committee is provided with the primary authority to determine and approve the
compensation package, as well as the individual elements of the compensation package, of our
executive officers. Consistent with the last two fiscal years, an independent global human resource
consulting firm, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, or Mercer, was retained by the compensation
committee to assist it in the determination of the key elements of our compensation package. To aid
the compensation committee in making its determination, our Chairman of the Board, our Group Chief
Executive Officer, and our Chief People Officer, who is the head of our human resource department,
provide recommendations to the compensation committee regarding the compensation of our executive
officers based upon Mercers recommendations as well as their own analyses. To determine the
compensation of our executive officers, the compensation committee, in turn, reviews the
performance of these executive officers, and participates in discussions with the Chairman of the
Board and the Group Chief Executive Officer, and considers their recommendations in the light of
Mercers compensation survey findings of comparable companies and recommendations to determine and
approve our executive officers compensations. For other managers, the compensation committee
determines the maximum equity awards to be granted and the guidelines for making such grants and
authorizes the Group Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Board, to
determine the awards to be granted to these members of the management team subject to the maximum
number of awards and guidelines. In addition, our Group Chief Executive Officer, our Chairman of
the Board and our Chief People Officer, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer of each of
our business units and the head of each of our enabling units, determine the base salary and bonus
of our other managers.
9
Target Overall Compensation
We set our overall compensation targets in close consultation with Mercer. In fiscal 2006, in
conjunction with our preparation for our initial public offering in July 2006, Mercers work
included conducting a survey of the prevailing compensation practices within the information
technology and ITES/BPO industries in India and the US to advise the compensation committee on
compensation structures and appropriate amounts and nature of compensation for our executive
officers and other managers to ensure that our compensation package is competitive in our markets.
The companies selected by Mercer for its survey for benchmarking our executive officers
compensation also included companies in similar industries and size that were recently listed in
the US at that time. The selected peer group of companies included SynTel, LLC and Convergys
Corporation from the data processing, outsourced services and telecommunication services
industries, and Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, Covansys Corp. and Kanbay, Inc. from
the information technology consulting and other services industries.
The Mercer survey provided us with a starting point in the determination of our overall
compensation targets. In addition, we considered factors which from our experience have been
important in the retention of our employees and the feedback received from our employees as well as
potential employees during recruitment to determine the overall compensation targets. In the case
of our Group Chief Executive Officer, we also considered our overall performance under his
leadership and the opportunity cost of finding a suitable replacement for him. Based upon Mercers
recommendations and the other considerations discussed above, the compensation committee determined
and approved the fiscal 2008 target overall compensation for our executive officers.
Allocation Among Compensation Components
The compensation package for our executive officers and other managers comprises a base salary, a
cash bonus and the grant of equity awards in the form of stock options and RSUs linked to
performance. The mix of compensation components varies based on the seniority level of the
executive officer. We typically allocate proportionately more performance-based compensation for
the more senior levels of management to ensure that their total compensation reflects our overall
success or failure and to motivate these senior management team members to meet appropriate
performance measures, thereby maximizing total return to shareholders. Correspondingly, the weight
of the base salary component in the overall compensation is greater for lower levels of management.
Each vested option is exercisable into one ordinary share and each vested RSU entitles the holder
of such RSU to receive one ordinary share. In fiscal 2008, only employees holding the positions of
Executive Vice President and above were granted stock options and RSUs. Senior Vice Presidents and
Vice Presidents were granted RSUs. The value of three stock options is equivalent to the value of
one RSU and the mix of equity awards between stock options and RSUs granted to our Executive Vice
Presidents and above were in the ratio of 3 to 2.
Base Salary. We pay a base salary to our executive officers and other managers to enable them to
maintain a standard of living in keeping with their professional standing and background within
their communities. Data from Mercers survey of our peer group of companies was a significant
factor in determining the salary levels. We also relied heavily on our recruiting experience for
senior executive level positions. It is our experience that base salary levels are considered to be
more important in attracting the right candidates for our Senior Vice President level positions and
below than for more senior management level positions and we set base salaries accordingly to
compete for the right talent at each level.
Cash Bonus. Cash performance bonuses are awarded at the end of each fiscal year based upon the
achievement of individual and group performance targets. The cash performance bonuses payable are
accrued every month. Statutorily applicable taxes and contributions payable on these amounts are
deducted before payment. Our executive officers and other managers have a diverse set of measurable
goals that are designed to promote the interests of our three key constituencies, namely,
shareholders, customers and employees, and includes building our organization capabilities as well
as other strategically important initiatives. These goals reflect their key responsibilities during
the year, which range from sales targets to operational goals, and are typically listed as each
individuals key performance indicators. The key performance indicators are identified
10
during the individuals annual performance review process. The key performance indicators include
the following key financial metrics:
|
|
group profit after taxes, plus share-based compensation expenses plus amortization of
intangible assets; |
|
|
annual revenue less repair payments; and |
|
|
exit revenue less repair payments, which is the average monthly revenue less repair
payments earned calculated based on the last two months of the fiscal year. |
In addition, for fiscal 2008 and 2007, the key performance indicators included the following
additional performance targets for the following executive officers:
|
|
Chairman of the Board achievement of specified revenue targets in the US; |
|
|
Group Chief Executive Officer retention of key managers holding a position of Assistant
Vice President and above and the successful completion of our initial public offering; |
|
|
Group Chief Financial Officer achievement of profit after tax targets, acquisition
targets and statutory compliance; and |
|
|
Managing Director of European Operations achievement of specified revenue targets in the
UK and Europe. |
Further, the Mercer study, which benchmarked peer group companies, was used to set bonus targets as
a percentage of the base salary for our executive officers and other managers.
Equity Awards. SFAS 123(R), which requires stock options granted to be recognized as an accounting
expense, became effective for us on April 1, 2006. As a result, RSUs, as a compensation tool,
became as attractive as stock options and we decided to grant RSUs together with stock options in
the equity award component of compensation. We believe that RSUs provide as much incentive as stock
options to motivate employees to perform at a high level. An added attraction of RSUs for a growing
company like ours is that fewer RSUs need to be granted to provide equivalent value as compared to
stock options, thereby reducing the dilutive impact to shareholders.
In determining equity compensation, our board of directors first determines the maximum equity
dilution that may result from equity awards and the maximum amount of equity-based compensation
expense that may be incurred for the fiscal year. Thereafter, based upon the recommendations of our
human resource department, we determine the proportion of stock options and RSUs to be granted for
each level of our executive officers and other managers. Finally, with the approval of our
compensation committee, we determine the total number of stock options and RSUs to be granted to
each level of our executive officers and other managers based on the fair market value of the
options on the grant date. The grant of these awards is based upon an individuals performance and
typically occurs after the end of the fiscal year as a part of the annual performance appraisal
process. However, for fiscal 2007, most of the grants were made in July 2006. For fiscal 2008, most
of the grants were made in April 2007 in respect of services rendered in fiscal 2007. The existing
or vested equity holdings of an employee or the number of prior awards granted are not taken into
consideration in determining the number of awards to be granted.
The performance goals for the award of equity awards to our executive officers and other managers
are the same as the performance goals to be considered for cash performance bonus payments. Both
stock options and RSUs typically vest over a period of three years in equal installments from the
date of grant. Under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, an individual must remain in our employment and
must not have resigned prior to the date of vesting. Under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, an
individual must remain in our employment prior to the date of vesting even if he has resigned prior
to the date of vesting. The share-based compensation expenses are amortized over the vesting
period.
11
Mercer has recommended regular annual equity grants to our executive officers and other managers at
the levels of Senior Vice Presidents and above. Based on Mercers recommendation, we use a tiered
approach that denominates award values as a percentage of salary. These awards vest in equal
installments over a period of three years on each anniversary of the date of grant. In fiscal 2008,
we granted RSUs to our executive officers and other managers at the levels of Vice Presidents and
above.
Retirement Benefits
We maintain retirement benefit plans in the form of certain statutory and incentive plans for our
executive officers and other managers. The features and benefits of these plans are largely
governed by applicable laws and market practices in the countries in which we operate and,
accordingly, vary from country to country in which we operate. For more information, see
Employee Benefit Plans.
Perquisites and Other Benefits
The perquisites and benefits granted to our executive officers and other managers are designed to
comply with the tax regulations of the applicable country and therefore vary from country to
country in which we operate. To the extent consistent with the tax regulations of the applicable
country, the benefits include:
|
|
leave travel assistance; |
|
|
telephone expenses reimbursement; |
|
|
petrol and maintenance for cars; |
|
|
accident and life insurance (based on the level of seniority); |
|
|
leased residential accommodation; and |
|
|
relocation benefits (individually negotiated). |
We review and adjust our benefits based upon the competitive practices in the local industry,
inflation rates, and tax regulations every fiscal year. Our underlying philosophy is to provide the
benefits that are ordinarily required by our employees for their well-being in their daily lives
and to negotiate group-level discounted rates so that all of our employees will be able to pay less
than what they would otherwise pay as individuals for the same level of benefits, and maximize the
overall value of their compensation package.
In countries where it is not possible or it does not make economic sense to provide the same level
of benefits that may be provided in other locations, we pay equivalent cash compensation to our
employees.
Severance Benefits
Under each of our employment agreements with our Group Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of Board
and Group Chief Financial Officer, if we terminated their employment without cause or if they
terminated their employment with us for good reasons, such as a material decrease in their role and
responsibilities or in their salary or bonuses opportunity), they would be entitled to receive the
severance benefits described at Employment Agreements of Certain Directors below.
Under each of our employment agreements with our other executive officers, if we terminated their
employment without cause or if the executive officer resigned for good reason, such executive
officer will be
12
entitled to receive a lump-sum severance payment in an amount ranging between three to 12 months of
their base salary, and in some cases, up to one years target bonus, and an acceleration of vesting
of stock options and RSUs.
Change in Control Arrangements
In the event of a change in control, all granted but unvested stock options and RSUs under the 2006
Incentive Award Plan would immediately vest and become exercisable by our executive officers
subject to certain conditions set out in the applicable stock option plans.
Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers
The aggregate compensation (including contingent or deferred payment) paid to our directors and
executive officers for services rendered in fiscal 2008 was $3.3 million, which comprised of $2.0
million paid towards salary, $1.0 million paid towards bonus and $0.3 million paid towards social
security, medical and other benefits. This included compensation paid to Mr. Alan Stephen Dunning
for services rendered during the first half of fiscal 2008 when he served as the Managing Director
of WNS UK and to Mr. J.J. Selvadurai for services rendered during the second half of fiscal 2008 as
the Managing Director of WNS UK, which became an executive officer level position and was renamed
as Managing Director of European Operations on October 1, 2007. The total compensation paid to
our most highly compensated executive in fiscal 2008 was $0.9 million (which was comprised of $0.5
million paid towards salary, $0.3 million paid towards bonus payments and $68,431 paid towards
social security, medical and other benefits).
The following table sets forth the total fiscal 2008 compensation paid to our executive officers in
fiscal 2008 who were holding such positions as of March 31, 2008. The individual compensations of
Alok Misra and Anup Gupta are disclosed in the statutory annual accounts of our subsidiary, WNS
Global Services Private Limited, filed with the Registrar of Companies in the state of India where
its registered office is located. We are voluntarily disclosing the individual compensation of our
other executive officers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2008 |
Name |
|
Salary |
|
Bonus |
Other Benefits |
Ramesh N. Shah |
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
|
$ |
185,000 |
|
|
$ |
51,608 |
|
Neeraj Bhargava |
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
325,000 |
|
|
|
68,431 |
|
Alok Misra(1) |
|
|
41,691 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,172 |
|
Anup Gupta(2) |
|
|
393,747 |
|
|
|
148,920 |
|
|
|
20,438 |
|
J.J. Selvadurai (3) |
|
|
180,265 |
|
|
|
70,968 |
|
|
|
76,234 |
|
|
|
|
Notes: |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer in place of Mr. Zubin Dubash with effect from
February 18, 2008. |
|
(2) |
|
Promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
Promoted to Managing Director of European Operations with effect from October 1, 2007. |
The aggregate compensation paid to our non-executive directors in fiscal 2008 was $279,874, which
comprised of sitting fees.
Our directors and executive officers were granted an aggregate 125,018 options and 161,233 RSUs
under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan in fiscal 2008.
Under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, our independent directors each received options to purchase
14,000 shares initially and an option to purchase 7,000 shares upon reelection to our board of
directors at each annual meeting of shareholders thereafter. On August 7, 2007, our board of
directors adopted an amendment to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan to eliminate the provision for
fixed grants of options to our directors. The number of awards to be granted to our independent
directors will instead be determined by our board of directors or our compensation committee.
Pursuant to this, our board of directors and our compensation committee determined that each
independent director will be granted 2,000 options and 2.500 RSUs for fiscal 2008. The
13
options granted to independent directors will be non-qualified options with a per share exercise
price equal to 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date that the option is granted.
Options granted to independent directors will become exercisable in cumulative annual installments
of 33 1/3% on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.
Employment Agreements of Certain Directors
The employment agreement we have entered into with Mr. Neeraj Bhargava in July 2006 to serve as our
Group Chief Executive Officer for a three-year term will renew automatically for additional
one-year increments, unless either we or Mr. Bhargava elect not to renew the term. Under the
agreement, Mr. Bhargava is entitled to receive compensation, health and other benefits and
perquisites commensurate with his position. In addition, pursuant to the agreement, in April 2007,
Mr. Bhargava was granted stock options and RSUs to purchase an aggregate of 65,600 shares that will
vest over a three-year period, subject to his continued employment with us. If Mr. Bhargavas
employment is terminated by us without cause (as defined in the employment agreement), he will be
entitled to receive his base salary for a period of 12 months after the date of such termination,
in addition to all accrued and unpaid salary, accrued and unused vacation and any unreimbursed
expenses. Mr. Bhargava would also be entitled to health benefits during those 12 months to the
extent permitted under our health plans.
If Mr. Bhargavas employment is terminated by us without cause or by Mr. Bhargava for good reason
(each as defined in the employment agreement) and Mr. Bhargava executes a general release and
waiver of claims against us, subject to his continued compliance with certain non-competition and
confidentiality obligations, Mr. Bhargava will be entitled to receive severance payments and
benefits from us as follows: (i) 24 months of base salary and healthcare benefits from his date of
termination; (ii) a lump sum payment equal to twice his effective target bonus; and (iii)
accelerated vesting of the stock options and RSUs granted under this employment agreement through
the end of the month of termination. If we experience a change in control while Mr. Bhargava is
employed under this agreement, all of the stock options and RSUs granted to Mr. Bhargava under this
employment agreement will vest and the stock options will become exercisable on a fully accelerated
basis.
The employment agreement we have entered into with Mr. Ramesh Shah in July 2006 to serve as our
chairman for a three-year term will renew automatically for additional one-year increments, unless
either we or Mr. Shah elect not to renew the term. Under the agreement, Mr. Shah is entitled to
receive compensation, health and other benefits and perquisites commensurate with his position. In
addition, pursuant to the agreement, in April 2007, Mr. Shah was granted stock options and RSUs to
purchase an aggregate of 54,688 shares that will vest over a three-year period, subject to his
continued employment with us. If Mr. Shahs employment is terminated by us without cause (as
defined in the employment agreement), he will be entitled to receive his base salary for 12 months
after the termination, in addition to all accrued and unpaid salary, earned bonus, accrued and
unused vacation and all benefits as set out in the employment agreement.
If Mr. Shahs employment is terminated by us without cause or by Mr. Shah for good reason (each as
defined in the employment agreement) and Mr. Shah executes a general release and waiver of claims
against us, subject to his continued compliance with certain non-competition and confidentiality
obligations, Mr. Shah will be entitled to receive severance payments and benefits from us as
follows: (i) 24 months of base salary and healthcare benefits from his date of termination; (ii) a
lump sum payment equal to twice his effective target bonus; and (iii) accelerated vesting of the
stock options and RSUs granted under this employment agreement through the end of the month of
termination. If we experience a change in control while Mr. Shah is employed under this agreement,
all of the stock options and RSUs granted to Mr. Shah under this employment agreement will vest and
the stock options will become exercisable on a fully accelerated basis.
14
Options and Restricted Share Units Granted
The following table sets forth information concerning options and RSUs granted to our directors and
executive officers in fiscal 2008 on the following terms:
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Number of |
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Ordinary Shares Underlying |
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Name |
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Options Granted |
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RSUs Granted |
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Exercise Price Per Share(1) |
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Expiration Date |
Directors |
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Ramesh N. Shah |
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21,875 |
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32,813 |
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$ |
27.75 |
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April 5, 2017 |
Neeraj Bhargava |
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26,250 |
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39,350 |
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$ |
27.75 |
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April 5, 2017 |
Jeremy Young |
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Eric B. Herr |
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2,000 |
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2,500 |
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$ |
22.98 |
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August 7, 2017 |
Deepak S. Parekh |
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2,000 |
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2,500 |
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$ |
22.98 |
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August 7, 2017 |
Richard O. Bernays |
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2,000 |
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2,500 |
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$ |
22.98 |
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August 7, 2017 |
Anthony Armitage Greener(2) |
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2,000 |
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2,500 |
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$ |
22.98 |
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August 7, 2017 |
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14,000 |
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$ |
28.48 |
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June 15, 2017 |
Executive Officers |
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Alok Misra(3) |
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13,260 |
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16,620 |
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$ |
15.32 |
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February 17, 2018 |
Anup Gupta(4) |
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8,203 |
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12,305 |
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$ |
27.75 |
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April 5, 2017 |
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8,000 |
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12,000 |
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$ |
15.68 |
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December 20, 2017 |
J.J. Selvadurai(5) |
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8,227 |
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12,340 |
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$ |
27.75 |
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April 5, 2017 |
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Notes: |
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(1) |
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Applicable in respect of options granted. There is no exercise price for RSUs. |
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(2) |
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Appointed as a director in June 2007. The information in this table excludes options to
purchase 14,000 shares granted to Sir Anthony Armitage Greener in June 2007. |
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(3) |
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Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer in place of Mr. Zubin Dubash with effect from February 18, 2008. |
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(4) |
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Appointed as Group Chief Operating Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. |
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(5) |
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Promoted to Managing Director of European Operations with effect from October 1, 2007. |
Employee Benefit Plans
We maintain employee benefit plans in the form of certain statutory and incentive plans covering
substantially all of our employees. As of March 31, 2008, the amount set aside or accrued by us to
provide pension, retirement or similar benefits was $2.2 million.
Provident Fund
In accordance with Indian and Sri Lankan laws, all of our employees in India and Sri Lanka are
entitled to receive benefits under the Provident Fund, a defined contribution plan to which both we
and the employee contribute monthly at a pre-determined rate (currently 12% of the employees base
salary). These contributions are made to the Government Provident Fund and we have no further
obligation under this fund apart from our monthly contributions. We contributed an aggregate of
$5.1 million in fiscal 2008, $3.2 million in fiscal 2007 and $1.8 million in fiscal 2006 to the
Government Provident Fund.
US Savings Plan
Eligible employees in the US participate in a savings plan, or the US Savings Plan, pursuant to
Section 401(k) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. The US
Savings Plan allows
15
our employees to defer a portion of their annual earnings on a pre-tax basis through voluntary
contributions thereunder. The US Savings Plan provides that we can make optional contributions up
to the maximum allowable limit under the Code.
UK Pension Scheme
Eligible employees in the UK contribute to a defined contribution pension scheme operated in the
UK. The assets of the scheme are held separately from ours in an independently administered fund.
The pension expense represents contributions payable to the fund by us.
Gratuity
In accordance with Indian and Sri Lankan laws, we provide for gratuity pursuant to a defined
benefit retirement plan covering all our employees in India and Sri Lanka. Our gratuity plan
provides for a lump sum payment to eligible employees on retirement death, incapacitation or on
termination of employment in an amount based on the employees salary and length of service with us
(subject to a maximum of approximately $8,000 per employee in India). In India, we provide the
gratuity benefit of two Indian subsidiaries through actuarially determined contributions pursuant
to a non-participating annuity contract administered and managed by the Life Insurance Corporation
of India, or LIC, and AVIVA Life Insurance Company Pvt. Ltd., or AVIVA Life Insurance. Under this
plan, the obligation to pay gratuity remains with us although LIC and AVIVA Life Insurance
administer the plan. We contributed an aggregate of $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.2 million in
fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, to LIC and AVIVA Life Insurance. Our Sri Lanka subsidiary
and five of our Indian subsidiaries have unfunded gratuity obligations.
Compensated Absence
Our liability for compensated absences is determined on an accrual basis for the entire unused
vacation balance standing to the credit of each employee as at year-end and were charged to income
in the year in which they accrue.
2002 Stock Incentive Plan
We adopted the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan on July 3, 2002 to help attract and retain the best
available personnel to serve us and our subsidiaries as officers, directors and employees. We
terminated the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan upon our adoption of the 2006 Incentive Award Plan
effective upon the pricing of our initial public offering as described below. Upon termination of
the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, the shares that would otherwise have been available for the grant
under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan were effectively rolled over into the 2006 Incentive Award
Plan, and any awards outstanding remain in full force and effect in accordance with the terms of
the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.
Administration. The 2002 Stock Incentive Plan is administered by our board of directors, which may
delegate its authority to a committee (in either case, the Administrator). The Administrator has
complete authority, subject to the terms of the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and applicable law, to
make all determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2002 Stock Incentive
Plan.
Eligibility. Under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, the Administrator was authorized to grant stock
options to our officers, directors and employees, and those of our subsidiaries, subject to the
terms and conditions of the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.
Stock Options. Stock options vest and become exercisable as determined by the Administrator and
set forth in individual stock option agreements, but may not, in any event, be exercised later than
ten years after their grant dates. In addition, stock options may be exercised prior to vesting in
some cases. Upon exercise, an optionee must tender the full exercise price of the stock option in
cash, check or other form acceptable to the Administrator, at which time the stock options are
generally subject to applicable income, employment and other withholding taxes. Stock options may,
in the sole discretion of the Administrator as set forth in applicable award agreements, continue
to be exercisable for a period following an optionees termination of service. Shares issued in
respect of exercised stock options may be subject to additional transfer restrictions. Any grants
of stock options under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan to US participants were in the form of non-
16
qualified stock options. Optionees, other than optionees who are employees of our subsidiaries in
India, are entitled to exercise their stock options for shares or ADSs in the company.
Corporate Transactions. If we engage in a merger or similar corporate transaction, except as may
otherwise be provided in an individual award agreement, outstanding stock options will be
terminated unless they are assumed by a successor corporation. In addition, the Administrator has
broad discretion to adjust the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and any stock options thereunder to
account for any changes in our capitalization.
Amendment. Our board of directors may amend or suspend the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan at any time,
provided that any such amendment or suspension must not impact any holder of outstanding stock
options without such holders consent.
Transferability of Stock Options. Each stock option may be exercised during the optionees
lifetime only by the optionee. No stock option may be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated,
transferred or disposed of by an optionee other than by express permission of the Administrator
(only in the case of employees of non-Indian subsidiaries), by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.
Number of Shares Authorized; Outstanding Options. As of the date of termination of the 2002 Stock
Incentive Plan on July 25, 2006, the day immediately preceding the date of pricing of our initial
public offering, an aggregate of 6,082,042 of our ordinary shares had been authorized for grant
under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan, of which options to purchase 2,116,266 ordinary shares were
issued and exercised and options to purchase 3,875,655 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding.
Of the options to purchase 3,875,655 ordinary shares, options to purchase 2,516,425 ordinary shares
have been exercised and options to purchase 1,143,528 ordinary shares remain outstanding as of June
30, 2008. In addition, as of June 30, 2008, options under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan to purchase
an aggregate of 413,336 ordinary shares were held by all our directors and executive officers as a
group. The exercise prices of these options range from £0.9970 to £7.0000. The expiration dates of
these options range from July 1, 2012 to February 21, 2016. Options granted under the 2002 Stock
Incentive Plan that are forfeited, lapsed or canceled, settled in cash, that expire or are
repurchased by us at the original purchase price would have been available for grant under the 2002
Stock Incentive Plan and would be effectively rolled over into the 2006 Incentive Award Plan.
2006 Incentive Award Plan
We adopted the 2006 Incentive Award Plan on June 1, 2006. The purpose of the 2006 Incentive Award
Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of our company by linking the personal
interests of the directors, employees and consultants of our company and our subsidiaries to those
of our shareholders and by providing these individuals with an incentive for outstanding
performance. The 2006 Incentive Award Plan is further intended to provide us with the ability to
motivate, attract and retain the services of these individuals.
Shares Available for Awards. Subject to certain adjustments set forth in the 2006 Incentive Award
Plan, the maximum number of shares that may be issued or awarded under the 2006 Incentive Award
Plan is equal to the sum of (x) 3,000,000 shares, (y) any shares that remain available for grant
under the Stock Incentive Plan, and (z) any shares subject to awards under the Stock Incentive Plan
which terminate, expire or lapse for any reason or are settled in cash on or after the effective
date of the 2006 Incentive Award Plan. The maximum number of shares which may be subject to awards
granted to any one participant during any calendar year is 500,000 shares and the maximum amount
that may be paid to a participant in cash during any calendar year with respect to cash-based
awards is $10,000,000. To the extent that an award terminates or is settled in cash, any shares
subject to the award will again be available for the grant. Any shares tendered or withheld to
satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any award will
not be available for subsequent grant. Except as described below with respect to independent
directors, no determination has been made as to the types or amounts of awards that will be granted
to specific individuals pursuant to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan.
Administration. The 2006 Incentive Award Plan is administered by our board of directors, which may
delegate its authority to a committee. We anticipate that the compensation committee of our board
of directors will administer the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, except that our board of directors will
administer the plan with respect to awards granted to our independent directors. The plan
administrator will determine eligibility, the types and sizes of awards, the price and timing of
awards and the acceleration or waiver of any vesting
17
restriction, provided that the plan administrator will not have the authority to accelerate vesting
or waive the forfeiture of any performance-based awards.
Eligibility. Our employees, consultants and directors and those of our subsidiaries are eligible
to be granted awards, except that only employees of our company and our qualifying corporate
subsidiaries are eligible to be granted options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock
options under Section 422 of the Code.
Awards
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Options. The plan administrator may grant options on shares. The per share option exercise
price of all options granted pursuant to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan will not be less than
100% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. No incentive stock option may
be granted to a grantee who owns more than 10% of our outstanding shares unless the exercise
price is at least 110% of the fair market value of a share on the date of grant. To the extent
that the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to an incentive stock option become
exercisable for the first time by any optionee during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such
excess will be treated as a non-qualified option. The plan administrator will determine the
methods of payment of the exercise price of an option, which may include cash, shares or other
property acceptable to the plan administrator (and may involve a cashless exercise of the
option). The term of options granted under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan may not exceed ten
years from the date of grant. However, the term of an incentive stock option granted to a
person who owns more than 10% of our outstanding shares on the date of grant may not exceed
five years. |
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Under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, our independent directors each received options to
purchase 14,000 shares initially and an option to purchase 7,000 shares upon reelection to our
board of directors at each annual meeting of shareholders thereafter. On August 7, 2007, our
board of directors adopted an amendment to the 2006 Incentive Award Plan to eliminate the
provision for fixed grants of options to our directors. The number of awards to be granted to
our independent directors will instead be determined by our board of directors or our
compensation committee. Pursuant to this, our board of directors and our compensation committee
determined that each independent director will be granted 2,000 options and 2,500 RSUs for
fiscal 2008. The options granted to independent directors will be non-qualified options with a
per share exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date that the
option is granted. Options granted to independent directors will become exercisable in
cumulative annual instalments of 33 1/3% on each of the first, second and third
anniversaries of the date of grant. |
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Restricted Shares. The plan administrator may grant shares subject to various
restrictions, including restrictions on transferability, limitations on the right to vote
and/or limitations on the right to receive dividends. |
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Share Appreciation Rights. The plan administrator may grant share appreciation rights
representing the right to receive payment of an amount equal to the excess of the fair market
value of a share on the date of exercise over the fair market value of a share on the date of
grant. The term of share appreciation rights granted may not exceed ten years from the date of
grant. The plan administrator may elect to pay share appreciation rights in cash, in shares or
in a combination of cash and shares. |
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Performance Shares and Performance Shares Units. The plan administrator may grant awards
of performance shares denominated in a number of shares and/or awards of performance share
units denominated in unit equivalents of shares and/or units of value, including dollar value
of shares. These awards may be linked to performance criteria measured over performance
periods as determined by the plan administrator. |
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Share Payments. The plan administrator may grant share payments, including payments in the
form of shares or options or other rights to purchase shares. Share payments may be based upon
specific performance criteria determined by the plan administrator on the date such share
payments are made or on any date thereafter. |
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Deferred Shares. The plan administrator may grant awards of deferred shares linked to
performance criteria determined by the plan administrator. Shares underlying deferred share
awards will not be issued until the deferred share awards have vested, pursuant to a vesting
schedule or upon the satisfaction of any |
18
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vesting conditions or performance criteria set by the plan administrator. Recipients of
deferred share awards generally will have no rights as shareholders with respect to such
deferred shares until the shares underlying the deferred share awards have been issued. |
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Restricted Share Units. The plan administrator may grant RSUs, subject to various vesting
conditions. On the maturity date, we will transfer to the participant one unrestricted, fully
transferable share for each vested RSU scheduled to be paid out on such date. The plan
administrator will specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the participant for such shares. |
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Performance Bonus Awards. The plan administrator may grant a cash bonus payable upon the
attainment of performance goals based on performance criteria and measured over a performance
period determined appropriate by the plan administrator. Any such cash bonus paid to a
covered employee within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code may be a performance-based
award as described below. |
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Performance-Based Awards. The plan administrator may grant awards other than options and
share appreciation rights to employees who are or may be covered employees, as defined in
Section 162(m) of the Code, that are intended to be performance-based awards within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code in order to preserve the deductibility of these awards
for federal income tax purposes. Participants are only entitled to receive payment for
performance-based awards for any given performance period to the extent that pre-established
performance goals set by the plan administrator for the period are satisfied. The plan
administrator will determine the type of performance-based awards to be granted, the
performance period and the performance goals. Generally, a participant will have to be
employed by us on the date the performance-based award is paid to be eligible for a
performance-based award for any period. |
Adjustments. In the event of certain changes in our capitalization, the plan administrator has
broad discretion to adjust awards, including without limitation, (i) the aggregate number and type
of shares that may be issued under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, (ii) the terms and conditions of
any outstanding awards, and (iii) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding awards
under such plan to account for such changes. The plan administrator also has the authority to cash
out, terminate or provide for the assumption or substitution of outstanding awards in the event of
a corporate transaction.
Change in Control. In the event of a change in control of our company in which outstanding awards
are not assumed by the successor, such awards will generally become fully exercisable and all
forfeiture restrictions on such awards will lapse. Upon, or in anticipation of, a change in
control, the plan administrator may cause any awards outstanding to terminate at a specific time in
the future and give each participant the right to exercise such awards during such period of time
as the plan administrator, in its sole discretion, determines.
Vesting of Full Value Awards. Full value awards (generally, any award other than an option or
share appreciation right) will vest over a period of at least three years (or, in the case of
vesting based upon attainment of certain performance goals, over a period of at least one year).
However, full value awards that result in the issuance of an aggregate of up to 5% to the total
issuable shares under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan may be granted without any minimum vesting
periods. In addition, full value awards may vest on an accelerated basis in the event of a
participants death, disability, or retirement, or in the event of our change in control or other
special circumstances.
Non-transferability. Awards granted under the 2006 Incentive Award Plan are generally not
transferable.
Termination or Amendment. Unless terminated earlier, the 2006 Incentive Award Plan will remain in
effect for a period of ten years from its effective date, after which no award may be granted under
the 2006 Incentive Award Plan. With the approval of our board of directors, the plan administrator
may terminate or amend the 2006 Incentive Award Plan at any time. However, shareholder approval
will be required for any amendment (i) to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or
stock exchange rule, (ii) to increase the number of shares available under the 2006 Incentive Award
Plan, (iii) to permit the grant of options or share appreciation rights with an exercise price
below fair market value on the date of grant, (iv) to extend the exercise period for an option or
share appreciation right beyond ten years from the date of grant, or (v) that results in a material
increase in benefits or a change in eligibility requirements. Any amendment or termination must not
materially adversely affect any participant without such participants consent.
19
Outstanding Awards. As of June 30, 2008, options or RSUs to purchase an aggregate of 2,370,479
ordinary shares were outstanding, out of which options or restricted share units to purchase
1,033,170 ordinary shares were held by all our directors and executive officers as a group. The
exercise prices of these options range from $15.32 to $30.31 and the expiration dates of these
options range from July 25, 2016 to April 7, 2018. The weighted average grant date fair value of
RSUs granted during the years ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 were $21.68 and $22.26 per ADS,
respectively. There were no grants of RSUs during the years ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. There is
no purchase price for the RSUs.
Fringe Benefit Tax
In May 2007, the government of India implemented a fringe benefit tax on the allotment of shares
pursuant to the exercise or vesting, on or after April 1, 2007, of options and RSUs granted to
employees. The fringe benefit tax is payable by the employer at the rate of 33.99% on the
difference between the fair market value of the options and the RSUs on the date of vesting of the
options and the RSUs and the exercise price of the options and the purchase price (if any) for the
RSUs, as applicable. In October 2007, the government of India published its guidelines on how the
fair market value of the options and RSUs should be determined. The new legislation permits the
employer to recover the fringe benefit tax from the employees. Accordingly, we have amended the
terms of our 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2006 Incentive Award Plan to allow us to recover the
fringe benefit tax from all our employees in India except those expatriate employees who are
resident in India. In respect of these expatriate employees, we are seeking clarification from the
Indian and foreign tax authorities on the ability of such expatriate employees to set off the
fringe benefit tax from the foreign taxes payable by them. If they are able to do so, we intend to
recover the fringe benefit tax from such expatriate employees in the future.
BOARD PRACTICES
Composition of the Board of Directors
Our Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that our board of directors consists of not less
than three directors, and such maximum number as our directors may determine from time to time. Our
board of directors currently consists of seven directors. Messrs. Herr, Parekh, Bernays and Sir
Anthony satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE rules.
All directors hold office until the expiry of their term of office, their resignation or removal
from office for gross negligence or criminal conduct by a resolution of our shareholders or until
they cease to be directors by virtue of any provision of law or they are disqualified by law from
being directors or they become bankrupt or make any arrangement or composition with their creditors
generally or they become of unsound mind. The term of office of the directors is divided into three
classes:
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Class I, whose term will expire at the annual general meeting to be held in July 2010; |
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Class II, whose term will expire at the annual general meeting to be held in September
2008; and |
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Class III, whose term will expire at the annual general meeting to be held in 2009. |
Our directors for fiscal 2008 are classified as follows:
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Class I: Sir Anthony Armitage Greener and Mr. Richard O. Bernays; |
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Class II: Mr. Ramesh N. Shah and Mr. Neeraj Bhargava; and |
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Class III: Mr. Jeremy Young, Mr. Eric B. Herr and Mr. Deepak S. Parekh. |
The appointments of Messrs. Ramesh N. Shah and Neeraj Bhargava will expire at the annual general
meeting to be held in September 2008. We are seeking shareholders approval for the re-election of
Mr. Shah and Mr. Bhargava at the annual general meeting.
20
At each annual general meeting after the initial classification or special meeting in lieu thereof,
the successors to directors whose terms will then expire serve from the time of election until the
third annual meeting following election or special meeting held in lieu thereof. Any additional
directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the
three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the
directors. This classification of the board of directors may have the effect of delaying or
preventing changes in control of management of our company.
There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers. The employment
agreements governing the services of two of our directors provide for benefits upon termination of
employment as described above.
Our board of directors held 12 meetings in fiscal 2008.
Committees of the Board
Our board of directors has three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee
and a nominating and corporate governance committee.
Audit Committee
The audit committee comprises four directors: Messrs. Eric Herr (Chairman), Deepak Parekh, Richard
O. Bernays, and Sir Anthony Armitage Greener who replaced Mr. Guy Sochovsky when the latter
resigned as a director in July 2007. Each of Messrs. Herr, Parekh and Bernays and Sir Anthony
satisfies the independence requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or the Exchange Act and the NYSE rules. The principal duties and responsibilities of our
audit committee are as follows:
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to serve as an independent and objective party to monitor our financial reporting process
and internal control systems; |
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|
to review and appraise the audit efforts of our independent accountants and exercise
ultimate authority over the relationship between us and our independent accountants; and |
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|
to provide an open avenue of communication among the independent accountants, financial and
senior management and the board of directors. |
The audit committee has the power to investigate any matter brought to its attention within the
scope of its duties. It also has the authority to retain counsel and advisors to fulfill its
responsibilities and duties. Mr. Herr serves as our audit committee financial expert, within the
requirements of the rules promulgated by the Commission relating to listed-company audit
committees.
The audit committee held five meetings in fiscal 2008.
Compensation Committee
The compensation committee comprises four directors: Messrs Richard O. Bernays (Chairman), Eric
Herr, Deepak Parekh and Sir Anthony Armitage Greener. Each of Messrs. Bernays, Herr and Parekh and
Sir Anthony satisfies the independence requirements of the NYSE listing standards. Sir Anthony
was appointed as a member of our compensation committee in place of Mr. Ramesh Shah in July 2007.
Mr. Bernays was appointed as Chairman of the compensation committee in place of Mr. Ramesh Shah in
July 2007. The scope of this committees duties includes determining the compensation of our
executive officers and other key management personnel. The compensation committee also administers
the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2006 Incentive Award Plan, reviews performance appraisal
criteria and sets standards for and decides on all employee shares options allocations when
delegated to do so by our board of directors.
The compensation committee held six meetings in fiscal 2008.
21
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The nominating and corporate governance committee comprises four directors: Messrs. Deepak Parekh
(Chairman), Eric Herr, Richard O. Bernays and Sir Anthony Armitrage Greener. Each of Messrs.
Parekh, Herr and Bernays and Sir Anthony satisfies the independence requirements of the NYSE
listing standards. Sir Anthony was appointed as a member of our nominating and corporate governance
committee in place of Mr. Jeremy Young in July 2007. The principal duties and responsibilities of
the nominating and governance committee are as follows:
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to assist the board of directors by identifying individuals qualified to become board
members and members of board committees, to recommend to the board of directors nominees for
the next annual meeting of shareholders, and to recommend to the board of directors nominees
for each committee of the board of directors; |
|
|
to monitor our corporate governance structure; and |
|
|
to periodically review and recommend to the board of directors any proposed changes to the
corporate governance guidelines applicable to us. |
The nominating and corporate governance committee held three meetings in fiscal 2008.
SHARE OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary
shares as of June 30, 2008 by each of our directors and all our directors and executive officers as
a group. As used in this table, beneficial ownership means the sole or shared power to vote or
direct the voting or to dispose of or direct the sale of any security. A person is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of any option,
warrant or right. Ordinary shares subject to options, warrants or rights that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days are deemed outstanding for computing the ownership
percentage of the person holding the options, warrants or rights, but are not deemed outstanding
for computing the ownership percentage of any other person. The amounts and percentages as of June
30, 2008 are based on an aggregate of 42,460,059 ordinary shares outstanding as of that date.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned |
Name |
|
Number |
|
Percent |
|
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ramesh N. Shah(1) |
|
|
392,395 |
|
|
|
0.924 |
% |
Neeraj Bhargava(2) |
|
|
267,118 |
|
|
|
0.629 |
% |
Jeremy Young(3) |
|
|
21,366,644 |
|
|
|
50.322 |
% |
Eric B. Herr |
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
|
0.011 |
% |
Deepak S. Parekh |
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
|
0.011 |
% |
Richard O. Bernays |
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
|
0.011 |
% |
Anthony Armitage Greener |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alok Misra |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anup Gupta |
|
|
124,970 |
|
|
|
0.294 |
% |
J.J. Selvadurai(4) |
|
|
267,688 |
|
|
|
0.630 |
% |
All our directors and
executive officers as a
group (10 persons)
(5) |
|
|
22,432,816 |
|
|
|
52.873 |
% |
22
|
|
|
Notes: |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Of the 392,395 shares beneficially owned by Ramesh N. Shah, 141,265 shares are indirectly
held via a trust which is controlled by Mr. Shah, and the remainder are held directly. |
|
(2) |
|
Of the 267,118 shares beneficially owned by Neeraj Bhargava, 87,300 shares are indirectly
held via a trust which is controlled by Mr. Bhargava, and the remainder is held directly. |
|
(3) |
|
Jeremy Young is a director of our company and a Managing Director and member of Warburg
Pincus LLC. All shares indicated as owned by Mr. Young was a result of his affiliation with
the Warburg Pincus entities. Mr. Young disclaim beneficial ownership of all shares held by the
Warburg Pincus entities. |
|
(4) |
|
Of the 267,688 shares beneficially owned by J.J. Selvadurai, 251,666 shares are indirectly
held via a trust which is controlled by Mr. Selvadurai, and the remainder is held directly by
his relatives. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes the shares beneficially owned by Jeremy Young, nominee director of Warburg Pincus,
because of his affiliation with the Warburg Pincus entities. Mr. Young disclaims beneficial
ownership of all shares held by the Warburg Pincus entities. |
The following table sets forth information concerning options and RSUs held by our directors and
executive officers as of June 30, 2008 on the following terms:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Award |
|
RSU Awards |
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
shares |
|
|
|
|
|
shares |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
|
underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
shares |
|
shares |
|
|
unexercised |
|
Exercise |
|
unexercised |
|
Exercise |
|
underlying |
|
underlying |
|
|
options |
|
Price per |
|
options |
|
Price per |
|
RSUs held that |
|
RSUs held that |
Name |
|
(Exercisable) |
|
Share |
|
(Unexercisable) |
|
Share |
|
have vested |
|
have not vested |
|
Directors |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ramesh N. Shah |
|
|
166,666 |
|
|
£ |
3.50 |
|
|
|
83,334 |
|
|
£ |
3.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
151,118 |
|
|
|
|
38,333 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
76,667 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,292 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
14,583 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Neeraj Bhargava |
|
|
1 |
|
|
£ |
0.9971 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
180,324 |
|
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
£ |
3.50 |
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
£ |
3.50 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
90,000 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,750 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
17,500 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeremy Young |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eric B. Herr |
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
9,333 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
22.98 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deepak S. Parekh |
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
9,333 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
22.98 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Richard O. Bernays |
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
$ |
28.87 |
|
|
|
9,333 |
|
|
$ |
28.87 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
22.98 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anthony Armitage
Greener(1) |
|
|
4,667 |
|
|
$ |
28.48 |
|
|
|
9,333 |
|
|
$ |
28.48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,000 |
|
|
$ |
22.98 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alok Misra(2) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,260 |
|
|
$ |
15.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
41,279 |
|
Anup Gupta(3) |
|
|
3,334 |
|
|
£ |
3.0000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,935 |
|
|
|
83,403 |
|
|
|
|
23,334 |
|
|
£ |
3.5000 |
|
|
|
23,333 |
|
|
£ |
3.5000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,667 |
|
|
£ |
7.0000 |
|
|
|
6,667 |
|
|
£ |
7.0000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,667 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
13,333 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,667 |
|
|
$ |
30.31 |
|
|
|
3,333 |
|
|
$ |
30.31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,734 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
5,469 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,000 |
|
|
$ |
15.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.J. Selvadurai(4) |
|
|
6,667 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
13,333 |
|
|
$ |
20.00 |
|
|
|
4,946 |
|
|
|
58,639 |
|
|
|
|
1,667 |
|
|
$ |
30.21 |
|
|
|
3,333 |
|
|
$ |
30.21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,742 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
5,485 |
|
|
$ |
27.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
Notes: |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Appointed as a director in June 2007. The information in this table excludes the options to
purchase 14,000 shares granted to Sir Anthony in June 2007. |
|
(2) |
|
Appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer with effect from February 18, 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
Promoted to Group Chief Operating Officer with effect from September 10, 2007. |
|
(4) |
|
Promoted to Managing Director of European Operations with effect from October 1, 2007. |
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares as
of June 30, 2008 held by each person who is known to us to have 5.0% or more beneficial share
ownership based on an aggregate of 42,460,059 ordinary shares outstanding as of that date.
Prior to our initial public offering in July 2006, Warburg Pincus owned 64.70%, British Airways
owned 14.61% and Theodore Agnew owned 5.54% of our then outstanding shares. Warburg Pincus sold
1,490,000 of its ordinary shares, British Airways sold its entire shareholding and Theodore Agnew
sold 1,075,925 of his shares in our initial public offering, following which Warburg Pincus owned
53.64% and Theodore Agnew owned 2.21% of our then outstanding shares and British Airways ceased to
be a shareholder.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Commission and includes
shares over which the indicated beneficial owner exercises voting and/or investment power or
receives the economic benefit of ownership of such securities. Ordinary shares subject to options
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days are deemed outstanding for the purposes of
computing the percentage ownership of the person holding the options but are not deemed outstanding
for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
|
Name of Beneficial Owner |
|
Beneficially Owned |
|
Percentage Beneficially Owned |
|
Warburg Pincus(1) |
|
|
21,366,644 |
|
|
|
50.32 |
% |
FMR LLC(2) |
|
|
6,285,400 |
|
|
|
14.80 |
% |
Tiger Global Management, L.L.C.(3) |
|
|
2,246,266 |
|
|
|
5.29 |
% |
Nalanda India Fund Limited (4) |
|
|
2,210,253 |
|
|
|
5.21 |
% |
|
|
|
Notes: |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Information is based on a report on Schedule 13G jointly filed with the Commission on August
22, 2006 by Warburg Pincus Private Equity VIII, L.P., or WP VIII, Warburg Pincus International
Partners, L.P., or WPIP, Warburg Pincus Netherlands International Partners I, CV, or WP
Netherlands, Warburg, Pincus Partners, LLC, or WPP LLC, Warburg, Pincus & Co., or Warburg
Pincus, and Warburg Pincus LLC, or WP LLC. The sole general partner of each of WP VIII, WPIP
and WP Netherlands is WPP LLC. WPP LLC is managed by Warburg Pincus. WP LLC manages each of WP
VIII, WPIP and WP Netherlands. Charles R. Kaye and Joseph P. Landy are each Managing General
Partners of Warburg Pincus and Co-President and Managing Members of WP LLC. Each of Warburg
Pincus, WPP LLC, WP LLC, Mr. Kaye and Mr. Landy disclaims beneficial ownership of the ordinary
shares except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest therein. |
|
(2) |
|
Formerly FMR Corp. Information is based on a report on Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13G
jointly filed with the Commission on February 14, 2008 by FMR LLC, Edward C. Johnson 3d,
Fidelity Management & Research Company and Fidelity Mid Cap Stock Fund. Edward C. Johnson 3d
is the Chairman of FMR LLC. Fidelity Management & Research Company, a wholly owned subsidiary
of FMR Corp., is the investment adviser to Fidelity Mid Cap Stock Fund. |
|
(3) |
|
Information is based on a report on Schedule 13G jointly filed with the Commission on
September 26, 2006 by Charles P. Coleman, III and Tiger Global Management, L.L.C, or Tiger.
Tiger serves as the management company of two domestic private investment partnerships and the
investment manager of an offshore investment vehicle. Mr. Coleman is the Managing Member of
Tiger. |
24
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Information is based on a report on Schedule 13G filed with the Commission on March 20, 2008
by Nalanda India Fund Limited. |
None of our major shareholders have different voting rights from our other shareholders.
As of June 30, 2008, 21,560,877 of our ordinary shares, representing 50.78% of our outstanding
ordinary shares, were held by a total of 15 holders of record with addresses in the US. As of the
same date, 19,511,553 of our ADSs (representing 19,511,553 ordinary shares), representing 45.95% of
our outstanding ordinary shares, were held by a total of one registered holder of record with
addresses in and outside of the US. Since certain of these ordinary shares and ADSs were held by
brokers or other nominees, the number of record holders in the US may not be representative of the
number of beneficial holders or where the beneficial holders are resident. All holders of our
ordinary shares are entitled to the same voting rights.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In May 2002, we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement,
pursuant to which we had granted, subject to certain conditions, to our shareholders, Warburg
Pincus and British Airways (so long as British Airways holds not less than 20% of our ordinary
shares on a fully diluted basis), certain demand registration rights which entitled these
shareholders to require us to use our reasonable efforts to prepare and file a registration
statement under the Securities Act. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, we had also
granted, subject to certain conditions, to Warburg Pincus and British Airways certain piggy-back
registration rights entitling these shareholders to sell their respective ordinary shares in a
registered offering of the company. We had agreed to bear the expenses incurred in connection with
such registrations, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and certain shareholder legal
fees. We had also agreed, under certain circumstances, to indemnify the underwriters in connection
with such registrations. Our shareholders, Warburg Pincus and British Airways, had agreed to
indemnify us and the underwriters in connection with any such registrations provided that their
obligation to indemnify is limited to the amount of sale proceeds received by them.
Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we were prohibited from entering into
any merger, consolidation or reorganization in which the company would not be the surviving
corporation unless the successor corporation agrees to assume the obligations and duties of the
company under the Registration Rights Agreement. We were also prohibited, except with the prior
written consent of Warburg Pincus and British Airways, from entering into similar agreements
granting registration rights to any shareholder or prospective shareholder. Following the
completion of our initial public offering in July 2006, British Airways ceased to be our
shareholder and its rights under the Registration Rights Agreement terminated. The Registration
Rights Agreement expired on May 20, 2007.
In May 2002, we entered into a master services agreement with British Airways, which was a
principal shareholder until it sold its entire shareholding in our initial public offering in July
2006. This agreement provided that we would render business process outsourcing services to British
Airways and its affiliates as per services level agreements agreed between us and British Airways.
The agreement had a term of five years and would have expired in March 2007. In July 2006, we
entered into a contract with British Airways which replaced this 2002 agreement. The renewed
contract will expire in May 2012. In fiscal 2008, British Airways accounted for $18.4 million of
our revenue, representing 4.0% of our revenue and 6.3% of our revenue less repair payments. In
fiscal 2007, British Airways accounted for $15.0 million of our revenue, representing 4.3% of our
revenue and 6.8% of our revenue less repair payments. In fiscal 2006, British Airways accounted for
$14.7 million of our revenue, representing 7.2% of our revenue and representing 9.9% of our revenue
less repair payments.
In fiscal 2003, we entered into agreements with certain affiliates of another of our principal
shareholders, Warburg Pincus, to provide business process outsourcing services. In fiscal 2008,
2007 and 2006, these affiliates in the aggregate accounted for $3.5 million, $2.2 million and $1.6
million, representing 0.8%, 0.6% and 0.8% of our revenue and 1.2%, 1.0% and 1.1% of our revenue
less repair payments. We have also entered into agreements with certain other affiliates of Warburg
Pincus under which we purchase equipment and certain enterprise resource planning services from
them. In fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, these affiliates in the aggregate accounted for $189,000,
$202,087 and $193,000 in expenses.
25
In fiscal 2004, we entered into an agreement with Flovate, a company in which Edwin Donald Harrell,
who was until April 2006 one of our executive officers, is a majority shareholder, under which we
license certain software. Flovate is engaged in the development and maintenance of software
products and solutions primarily used by WNS Assistance in providing services to its customers. In
fiscal 2008, 2007 and 2006, payments by us to Flovate pursuant to this agreement amounted to $0.8
million, $4.6 million and $3.1 million in the aggregate.
On June 6, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Edwin Donald Harrell, Theodore Agnew and Clare
Margaret Agnew to purchase all the shares of Flovate for a consideration comprising £3.3 in cash
and have deposited an additional retention amount of £0.7 into an escrow account which has been
paid to the selling shareholders.
In fiscal 2006, WP International Holdings II LLC, an affiliate of our majority shareholder, Warburg
Pincus, extended a loan of £74,783 to Edwin Donald Harrell, who was until April 2006 one of our
executive officers. The purpose of this loan was to assist Mr. Harrell to finance the purchase of
our ordinary shares upon exercise of his stock options. The loan was repaid by Mr. Harrell in April
2006.
In fiscal 2006, WP International Holdings II LLC, an affiliate of our majority shareholder, Warburg
Pincus, extended a loan of £139,999 to one of our executive officers, J. J. Selvadurai. The purpose
of this loan was to assist Mr. Selvadurai to finance the purchase of our ordinary shares upon
exercise of his stock options. The loan was repaid by Mr. Selvadurai in March 2006.
On January 1, 2005, we entered into an agreement with Datacap Software Private Limited, or Datacap,
pursuant to which Datacap granted us the license to use its proprietary ITES software program. The
agreement also allows us to sub-licence the object codes of the software program. J.J. Selvadurai,
our Managing Director of European Operations, is a principal shareholder of Datacap. In fiscal
2008, we paid $26,000 for the license under the agreement.
AUDIT MATTERS
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Ernst & Young has served as our independent registered public accounting firm since fiscal 2003.
The following table shows the fees we paid or accrued for the audit and other services provided by
Ernst & Young for fiscal 2008 and 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal |
|
|
2008 |
|
2007 |
Audit fees |
|
$ |
770,000 |
|
|
$ |
400,000 |
|
Audit-related fees |
|
|
39,000 |
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
Tax fees |
|
|
126,418 |
|
|
|
327,414 |
|
All other fees |
|
|
188,295 |
|
|
|
224,900 |
|
Audit fees. This category consists of fees billed for the audit of financial statements, quarterly
review of financial statements and other audit services, which are normally provided by the
independent auditors in connection with statutory and accounting matters that arose during, or as a
result of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements and include the group audit;
statutory audits required by non-US jurisdictions; comfort letters and consents; attest services;
and assistance with and review of documents filed with the Commission.
Audit-related fees. This category consists of fees billed for assurance and related services that
are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements or
that are traditionally performed by the external auditor, and include internal control reviews of
new systems, program and projects; review of security controls and operational effectiveness of
systems.
26
Tax fees. This category includes fees billed for tax compliance services, including the
preparation of original and amended tax returns and claims for refund; tax consultations, such as
assistance and representation in connection with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to
mergers and acquisitions, transfer pricing, and requests for rulings or technical advice from
taxing authorities and tax planning services.
All other fees. This category includes fees billed for due diligence related to acquisitions,
accounting assistance, audits in connection with proposed or completed acquisitions and employee
benefit plans audits.
Audit Committee Pre-approval Process
Our audit committee reviews and pre-approves the scope and the cost of all audit and permissible
non-audit services performed by the independent auditors, other than those for de minimus services
which are approved by the audit committee prior to the completion of the audit. All of the services
provided by Ernst & Young during the last fiscal year have been approved by the audit committee.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The stock performance graph below shall not be deemed incorporated by reference by any general
statement incorporating by reference this Proxy Statement into any filing under the U.S. Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act), or under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the Exchange Act, together with the 1933 Act, the Acts), except to the extent the
Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed
filed under such Acts. This graph below compares the total shareholder return of the Companys
American Depositary Shares (ADSs), each represented by one ordinary share, with the S&P 500
Index, the NYSE Composite Index and our peer group index over a period from July 26, 2006 to March
31, 2008. Our peer group index is constructed based on the following selected peer group of
companies: Infosys Technologies Limited, Wipro Limited, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation,
Tata Consultancy Services Limited (trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock
Exchange, India) and Exlservice Holdings, Inc. The Company believes that these companies most
closely resemble business mix and that their performance is representative of its industry. The
returns of the component entities of the Companys peer group index are weighed according to the
market capitalization of each entity as of the beginning of each period for which a return is
presented. July 26, 2006 was the first day of trading in the Companys ADSs. The total shareholder
return assumes $100 invested at the beginning of the period in the Companys ADSs, the S&P 500
Index, the NYSE composite Index and our peer group index. It also assumes reinvestment of all
dividends. Pursuant to the rules and interpretations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission, the graph is calculated using, as the beginning measurement point, the closing price of
the Companys ADSs on July 26, 2006, which was $24.50. The initial public offering price of the
Companys ADSs was $20.00 per share.
27
Cumulative Total Return
Based upon an initial investment of $100 on July 26, 2006 with dividends reinvested
28
EX-99.4 Form of proxy
Exhibit 99.4
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
FORM OF PROXY
FOR THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To be Held on September 15, 2008
For use at the Annual General Meeting of the shareholders of WNS (Holdings) Limited (the Company)
to be held at 1.00 pm on Monday, September 15 , 2008 and any adjournment thereof.
I/We
[insert name] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
of [address] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(BLOCK LETTERS PLEASE), being (a) shareholder(s) of the above named Company, hereby
appoint the Chairman of the Annual General Meeting or*
[insert name] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of
[address] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . as my/our
proxy to vote for me/us and on my/our behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be
held at 1.00 pm on Monday, September 15, 2008 and at any adjournment thereof or on a poll in
respect of [insert number]** . . . . . . . . . . . .
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ordinary shares in the capital of the
Company.
*An alternative proxy may be named if desired delete as appropriate. A proxy need not be a
shareholder of the Company.
** If you appoint more than one proxy, you will need to specify the number of ordinary shares in
respect of which the named proxy is entitled to vote. If you appoint only one proxy you do not
need to specify the number of ordinary shares you hold.
I / We direct my / our proxy to vote as follows:-
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ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS |
FOR |
AGAINST |
ABSTAIN |
1. |
Annual accounts |
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2. |
Re-appointment of auditors |
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3. |
Auditors remuneration |
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4. |
Re-election of Mr. Ramesh Shah as a Director of the Company |
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5 |
Re-election of Mr. Neeraj Bhargava as a Director of the Company |
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6. |
Directors remuneration |
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Date: , 2008
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Signature of Shareholder/Authorised Signatory |
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(If you are signing this form as a director or officer of a body corporate or other entity, please
indicate in what capacity you are signing and who you are signing for e.g. Director of X Limited
or Director of X Limited as general partner of Y Limited Partnership).
NOTES:
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Please indicate with an X in the appropriate box how you wish the proxy to vote. |
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2. |
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The proxy will exercise his discretion as to how he votes or whether he abstains from
voting:- |
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on the resolutions referred to in this Form of Proxy if no instruction is given
in respect of the resolutions; and |
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(b) |
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on any business or resolution considered at the Annual General Meeting other
than the resolutions referred to in this Form of Proxy. |
3. |
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To be valid, the instrument appointing a proxy, and any power of attorney or other authority
(e.g. board minutes) under which it is signed (or a notarially certified copy of any such
power or authority), must be deposited at the registered office of the Company at 12, Castle
Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT Channel Islands C not less than 48 hours before the time
appointed for the holding of the Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the
taking of a poll at which the proxy proposes to vote. |
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A Form of Proxy executed by a corporation must be either under its common seal or signed by
an officer or attorney duly authorised by the corporation. |
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In the case of joint holders, the name of all the joint holders should be stated in the Form
of Proxy and all should sign it. Joint holders should elect one of their number to represent
them in person or by proxy in their name. In the absence of such election, the vote of the
holder whose name appears first in order in the Register of Shareholders, whether in person or
by proxy, will be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of other joint holder(s). For this
purpose, seniority is determined by the order in which the names appear in the Register of
Shareholders. |
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A proxy may be revoked by: (i) giving the Company notice in writing deposited at the
Companys registered office (care of Capita Secretaries Limited, 12, Castle Street, St Helier,
Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel Islands) before the commencement of the Annual General Meeting or any
adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the proxy proposes to vote; (ii)
depositing a new Form of Proxy with the Company Secretary before the commencement of the
Annual General Meeting or any adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the
proxy proposes to vote (although it should be noted that the new Form of Proxy will only be a
valid proxy, as opposed to being capable of revoking an earlier Form of Proxy, if deposited
not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Annual General Meeting or any
adjournment thereof or for the taking of a poll at which the proxy proposes to vote); or (iii)
attending in person and voting on a poll. |
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The Company shall be entitled to reject the instrument appointing a proxy or proxies if it is
incomplete, improperly completed, illegible or where the true intentions of the appointor are
not ascertainable from the instructions of the appointor specified in the instrument
appointing a proxy or proxies. |
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Facsimile or email copies of this Form of Proxy will not be accepted. |
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FOR OFFICE USE ONLY |
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Register No |
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Holding |
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EX-99.5 - Depositary's notice of AGM
Exhibit 99.5
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust and Securities Services
Global Equity Services
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DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS
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August 13, 2008 |
Depositarys Notice of Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of WNS (Holdings) Limited:
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Issue:
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WNS (Holdings) Limited / Cusip 92932M101 |
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Country:
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Jersey |
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Meeting Details:
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Annual General Meeting of Shareholders for WNS (Holdings) Limited on Monday,
September 15, 2008 at 1.00 pm (Local Time) at 12 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey
JE2 3RT, Channel Islands |
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Meeting Agenda:
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The Companys Notice of Meeting including the Agenda of the Annual General Meeting
is attached |
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Voting Deadline:
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On or before 9th September, 2008 at 3:00 PM (New York City time) |
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ADR Record Date:
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August 11, 2008 |
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Ordinary :ADR ratio
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1 Ordinary Share : 1 ADS |
Holders of WNS (Holdings) Limited American Depositary Receipts (ADSs) are hereby notified of an
Annual General Meetings of Shareholders of WNS (Holdings) Limited (the Company) to be held on
September 15, 2008. A copy of the Notice of Meeting from the Company, which includes the agenda
can be found on the following website www.wnsgs.com.
You may also obtain a paper copy of the Annual Report on Form 20-F, free of charge, by sending a
written request to WNS registered office at 12 Castle Street, St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT, Channel
Islands, or by sending an email to ssd@capitaregistrars.com, Attention: Sarah Dawes. In
addition, the Annual Report on Form 20-F may be accessed through the SECs website maintained at
http://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/srch-edgar.
Holders of record of ADSs as of the close of business on the ADS Record Date will be entitled to
those voting rights as outlined in the Deposit Agreement between the Company and Deutsche Bank
Trust Company Americas, as Depositary (the Deposit Agreement).
As soon as practicable after receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Shares are
entitled to vote, or of solicitation of consents or proxies from holders of Shares or other
Deposited Securities, the Depositary shall fix the ADS Record Date in respect of such meeting or
solicitation of such consent or proxy. The Depositary shall, if requested by the Company in
writing in a timely manner (the Depositary having no obligation to take any further action if the
request shall not have been received by the Depositary at least 21 days prior to the date of such
vote or meeting), at the Companys expense and provided no U.S. legal prohibitions exist, mail by
ordinary, regular mail delivery or by electronic transmission (if agreed by the Company and the
Depositary), unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and the Depositary, to Holders as of
the ADS Record Date: (a) such notice of meeting or solicitation of consent or proxies; (b) a
statement that the Holders as of the ADS Record Date will be entitled, subject to any applicable
law, the Companys Memorandum and Articles of Association and the provisions of or governing the
Deposited Securities (which provisions, if any, shall be summarized in pertinent part by the
Company), to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights, if any, pertaining to
the Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by such Holders ADSs; and (c) a brief
statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given.
2
Upon the timely receipt of written instructions of a Holder of ADSs on the ADS Record Date of
voting instructions, the Depositary shall endeavor, insofar as practicable and permitted under
applicable law and the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the Companys Memorandum and Articles
of Association and the provisions of the Deposited Securities, to vote or cause the Custodian to
vote the Shares and/or other Deposited Securities represented by ADSs held by such Holder in
accordance with such instructions.
Neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall, under any circumstances exercise any discretion as
to voting, and neither the Depositary nor the Custodian shall vote, attempt to exercise the right
to vote, or in any way make use of, for purposes of establishing a quorum or otherwise the Shares
or other Deposited Securities represented by ADSs except pursuant to and in accordance with such
written instructions from Holders. Shares or other Deposited Securities represented by ADSs for
which no specific voting instructions are received by the Depositary from the Holder shall not be
voted.
Notwithstanding the above, save for applicable provisions of Jersey law, and in accordance with
Section 5.3 of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall not be liable for any failure to carry
out any instructions to vote any of the Deposited Securities, or for the manner in which such vote
is cast or the effect of any such vote.
For further information, please contact:
Duewa Brooks
Depositary Receipts
212 250 1305 phone
212 797 0327 fax
EX-99.6 Voting card
Exhibit 99.6
THE FOLLOWING PROXY CARD RELATES TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS OF WNS
(HOLDINGS) LIMITED AND IS BEING SENT TO THE HOLDERS OF WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED AMERICAN DEPOSITARY
RECEIPTS PURSUANT TO THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT AMONG WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST
COMPANY AMERICAS AS DEPOSITARY, AND THE REGISTERED HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THE AMERICAN
DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS.
WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED
Annual General Meeting of Shareholders
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Resolutions presented for consideration at the Annual
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Vote |
General Meeting of Shareholders on September 15, 2008 |
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For |
Against |
Abstain |
1 |
Annual audited accounts |
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2 |
Re-appointment of auditors |
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3 |
Auditors remuneration |
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4 |
Re-election of Mr. Ramesh Shah as a Director of the Company |
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5 |
Re-election of Mr. Neeraj Bhargava as a Director of the Company |
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6 |
Directors remuneration |
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