1. Overview
1.1 Company overview
Infosys Limited (“the Company” or Infosys) is a leading provider of consulting, technology, outsourcing and next-generation digital services, enabling clients to execute strategies for their digital transformation. Infosys’ strategic objective is to build a sustainable organization that remains relevant to the agenda of clients, while creating growth opportunities for employees and generating profitable returns for investors. The Company’s strategy is to be a navigator for our clients as they ideate on, plan and execute their journey to a digital future.
The Company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in India and has its registered office at Electronic City, Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560100, Karnataka, India. The Company has its primary listings on the BSE Ltd. and National Stock Exchange of India Limited. The Company’s American Depositary Shares (ADSs) representing equity shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Further, the Company’s ADSs were also listed on Euronext London and Euronext Paris. On July 5, 2018, the Company voluntarily delisted its ADSs from the said exchanges due to low average daily trading volume of its ADSs on these exchanges. The financial statements are approved for issue by the Company’s Board of Directors on April 12, 2019.
1.2 Basis of preparation of financial statements
These financial statements are prepared in accordance with Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS), under the historical cost convention on the accrual basis except for certain financial instruments which are measured at fair values, the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013 (“the Act”) (to the extent notified) and guidelines issued by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The Ind AS are prescribed under Section 133 of the Act read with Rule 3 of the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015 and relevant amendment rules issued thereafter.
Accounting policies have been consistently applied except where a newly-issued accounting standard is initially adopted or a revision to an existing accounting standard requires a change in the accounting policy hitherto in use.
As the quarter and year figures are taken from the source and rounded to the nearest digits, the figures reported for the previous quarters might not always add up to the year-end figures reported in this statement.
1.3 Use of estimates and judgments
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with Ind AS requires the Management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions. These estimates, judgments and assumptions affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. The application of accounting policies that require critical accounting estimates involving complex and subjective judgments and the use of assumptions in these financial statements have been disclosed in Note 1.4. Accounting estimates could change from period to period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Appropriate changes in estimates are made as the Management becomes aware of changes in circumstances surrounding the estimates. Changes in estimates are reflected in the financial statements in the period in which the changes are made and, if material, their effects are disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Critical accounting estimates
a. Revenue recognition
The Company uses the percentage-of-completion method in accounting for its fixed-price contracts. Use of the percentage-of-completion method requires the Company to estimate the efforts or costs expended to date as a proportion of the total efforts or costs to be expended. Efforts or costs expended have been used to measure progress towards completion as there is a direct relationship between input and productivity.
Further, the Company uses significant judgments while determining the transaction price allocated to performance obligations using the expected cost plus margin approach. Provisions for estimated losses, if any, on uncompleted contracts are recorded in the period in which such losses become probable based on the expected contract estimates at the reporting date.
b Income taxes
The Company’s two major tax jurisdictions are India and the US, though the Company also files tax returns in other overseas jurisdictions. Significant judgments are involved in determining the provision for income taxes, including amount expected to be paid / recovered for uncertain tax positions. Also, refer to Notes 2.15 and 2.22.
In assessing the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Management considers whether some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the temporary differences become deductible. The Management considers the scheduled reversals of deferred income tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred income tax assets are deductible, the Management believes that the Company will realize the benefits of those deductible differences. The amount of the deferred income tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carry forward period are reduced.
c. Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment represent a significant proportion of the asset base of the Company. The charge in respect of periodic depreciation is derived after determining an estimate of an asset’s expected useful life and the expected residual value at the end of its life. The useful lives and residual values of the Company’s assets are determined by the Management at the time that the asset is acquired and reviewed periodically, including at each financial year end. The lives are based on historical experience with similar assets as well as anticipation of future events, which may impact their life, such as changes in technology. Refer to Note 2.1.
d. Non-current assets held for sale
Assets held for sale are measured at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. The determination of fair value less costs to sell includes use of the Management’s estimates and assumptions. The fair value of the assets held for sale has been estimated using valuation techniques (including income-and-market approach) which include unobservable inputs. Non-current assets and disposal group that ceases to be classified under ‘Held for Sale’ shall be measured at the lower of carrying amount before the non-current asset and disposal group were classified under ‘Held for Sale’ and its recoverable amount at the date of the subsequent decision not to sell (refer to Note 2.3). Recoverable amounts of assets reclassified from ‘Held for Sale’ have been estimated using the Management’s assumptions which consist of significant unobservable inputs.
1.5 Recent accounting pronouncements
Ind AS 116, Leases : On March 30, 2019, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has notified Ind AS 116, Leases. Ind AS 116 will replace the existing leases standard, Ind AS 17, Leases, and related interpretations. The standard sets out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both parties to a contract i.e., the lessee and the lessor. Ind AS 116 introduces a single lessee accounting model and requires the lessee to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than twelve months, unless the underlying asset is of low value. Currently, operating lease expenses are charged to the Statement of Profit and Loss. The standard also contains enhanced disclosure requirements for lessees. Ind AS 116 substantially carries forward the lessor accounting requirements in Ind AS 17.
The effective date for the adoption of Ind AS 116 is annual periods beginning on or after April 1, 2019. The standard permits two possible methods of transition :
- Full retrospective - Retrospectively to each prior period presented applying Ind AS 8, Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors
- Modified retrospective - Retrospectively, with the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard recognized at the date of initial application
Under modified retrospective approach, the lessee records the lease liability as the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted at the incremental borrowing rate and the right of use asset either as :
- Its carrying amount as if the standard had been applied since the commencement date, but discounted at the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate at the date of initial application, or
- An amount equal to the lease liability, adjusted by the amount of any prepaid or accrued lease payments related to that lease recognized under Ind AS 17 immediately before the date of initial application.
Certain practical expedients are available under both the methods.
On completion of evaluation of the effect of adoption of Ind AS 116, the Company is proposing to use the ‘Modified Retrospective Approach’ for transitioning to Ind AS 116, and take the cumulative adjustment to retained earnings, on the date of initial application (April 1, 2019). Accordingly, comparatives for the year ended March 31, 2019 will not be retrospectively adjusted. The Company has elected certain available practical expedients on transition.
The effect of adoption as on transition date would majorly result in an increase in right of use asset approximately by Rs. 1,300 crore, net investment in sub-lease approximately by Rs. 550 crore and an increase in lease liability approximately by Rs. 2,000 crore.
Ind AS 12, Appendix C, Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments : On March 30, 2019, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has notified Ind AS 12, Appendix C, Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments which is to be applied while performing the determination of taxable profit (or loss), tax bases, unused tax losses, unused tax credits and tax rates, when there is uncertainty over income tax treatments under Ind AS 12. According to the appendix, companies need to determine the probability of the relevant tax authority accepting each tax treatment, or group of tax treatments, that the companies have used or plan to use in their income tax filing which has to be considered to compute the most likely amount or the expected value of the tax treatment when determining taxable profit (tax loss), tax bases, unused tax losses, unused tax credits and tax rates.
The standard permits two possible methods of transition :
- Full retrospective approach - Under this approach, Appendix C will be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented in accordance with Ind AS 8, Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors, without using hindsight, and
- Retrospectively with cumulative effect of initially applying Appendix C recognized by adjusting equity on initial application, without adjusting comparatives
The effective date for adoption of Ind AS 12 Appendix C is annual periods beginning on or after April 1, 2019. The Company will adopt the standard on April 1, 2019 and has decided to adjust the cumulative effect in equity on the date of initial application i.e. April 1, 2019 without adjusting comparatives.
The effect on adoption of Ind AS 12 Appendix C would be insignificant in the standalone financial statements. Amendment to Ind AS 12, Income taxes : On March 30, 2019, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued amendments to the guidance in Ind AS 12, Income Taxes, in connection with accounting for dividend distribution taxes.
The amendment clarifies that an entity shall recognize the income tax consequences of dividends in profit or loss, other comprehensive income or equity according to where the entity originally recognized those past transactions or events.
Effective date for application of this amendment is annual period beginning on or after April 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this amendment on the standalone financial statements.
Amendment to Ind AS 19, plan amendment, curtailment or settlement: On March 30, 2019, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued amendments to Ind AS 19, Employee Benefits, in connection with accounting for plan amendments, curtailments and settlements.
The amendments require an entity :
- To use updated assumptions to determine current service cost and net interest for the remainder of the period after a plan amendment, curtailment or settlement; and
- To recognize in profit or loss as part of past service cost, or a gain or loss on settlement, any reduction in a surplus, even if that surplus was not previously recognized because of the impact of the asset ceiling.
Effective date for application of this amendment is annual period beginning on or after April 1, 2019. The Company does not have any impact on account of this amendment.