For the fiscal 2007-08, the company's net profits was at Rs 4659 crore as against Rs 3856 crore recorded for the year ending March 31, 2007.

For the fourth quarter of 2007-08, the company's revenues were at Rs 4542 crore, a year-on-year growth of 20.4 per cent. Net profit was at Rs 1,249 crore, a YoY growth of 9.2 per cent. The net profit for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2008 includes a reversal of tax provisions amounting to Rs 20 crore and Rs 121 crore respectively.

Excluding this reversal, the earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter and the year ended March 31, 2008 would have been Rs 21.47 and Rs 79.39 resulting in a YoY growth of 18.6 per cent and 18.7 per cent respectively. However, currently the EPS is at Rs 21.83 for the fourth quarter and Rs 81.53 for the year 2007-08, an increase of 7.5 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.

"While there could be short-term challenges due to global economic uncertainties, we as a company see significant growth opportunities in the medium to long term," said S. Gopalakrishnan, CEO and managing director of the company.

The company, announcing its outlook for the April-May-June quarter of the year 2008, said, it expects, the income to be in the range of Rs 4570 crore and Rs 4582 crore with a growth of around 21 per cent.

Earnings per share are expected to be at Rs 20.73 with a growth of 15.2 per cent.

For the fiscal 2008-09, the company expects its income to be in the range of Rs 19,894 crore and Rs 20,214 crore, an increase of around 19.2 per cent to 21.1 per cent. Earnings per share are expected to be between Rs 92.32 and Rs 93.92, at 16.3 per cent to 18.3 per cent growth.

The board of directors recommended a final dividend of Rs 7.25 per share for the fiscal 2008 amounting to Rs 415 crore. The company's board has also recommended a special dividend of Rs 20 per share amounting to Rs 1,144 crore.

Including the interim dividend of Rs 6 per share, amounting to Rs 343 crore, the total dividend recommended for the year is Rs 33.25 per share amounting to Rs 1902 crore.

"We crossed a significant milestone reaching $1 billion in net profits during the year. We have also successfully maintained our margins during the year, despite an 11 per cent appreciation in the rupee," said V Balakrishnan, CFO of the company.

"Our special dividend payment is to celebrate the achievement of the $1 billion net income milestone and is in line with our desire to balance the cash required in the business with that of enhancing returns to our shareholders."

"We hired 33,177 employees during fiscal 2008, which is the highest employee addition in any year," informed T V Mohandas Pai, Member of the board and Head-HRD and Education and Research.

"We have invested substantially in capability building and in the HR system during the year. Our ability to train and invest in people gives us a unique competitive advantage. Our investment in people enables us to go up the value chain in a significant manner."