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India's TCS profits rise 12 percent despite flood damage

Chief Executive Officer of Indian software firm Tata Consultancy Services N. Chandrasekaran, pictured on April 21, 2014, remained optimistic about future earnings and said the firm had signed nine major deals in the just-concluded quarter

India's biggest IT outsourcing firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Tuesday reported stronger than expected quarterly earnings despite the impact of deadly floods in Chennai. The software giant said net profit for the three months to December 31 rose 12.2 percent to 61.1 billion rupees ($913.78 million) from 54.4 billion rupees for the same period the year before. A Bloomberg survey had expected the Mumbai-based firm to increase its profits to 60.1 billion rupees, but strong orders from its major markets of Europe and the United States propelled earnings higher. "All our industry segments have exhibited growth in a traditionally weak quarter additionally accentuated by the impact of the Chennai floods," TCS chief executive N. Chandrasekaran said in a statement. The floods at the end of last year killed more than 250 people and swamped the offices of many top IT firms, including TCS competitor Infosys. Chandrasekaran remained optimistic about future earnings and said the firm had signed nine major deals in the just-concluded quarter, adding 9,071 new employees. Revenues for the last quarter increased 11.7 percent year-on-year to 273.64 billion rupees. India has become a back office to the world as companies, especially in developed nations, have subcontracted work to firms such as TCS, taking advantage of the country's skilled English-speaking workforce.