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ExlService (NASDAQ: EXLS) starts $125M accelerated buyback, director to exit

Filing Impact
(Moderate)
Filing Sentiment
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

ExlService Holdings, Inc. entered into a fixed dollar accelerated share repurchase transaction with Morgan Stanley to buy back $125 million of its common stock, as part of a broader $500 million repurchase authorization. The company prepaid $125 million and initially received 3,346,720 shares, representing approximately $100 million based on the March 16, 2026 closing price. The final share count will depend on the Rule 10b-18 volume-weighted average price during a valuation period, with settlement expected no later than the second quarter of 2026 and flexible share or cash settlement mechanics. The repurchase is being funded with cash on hand and borrowings under the existing credit facility. The company also disclosed that director Nitin Sahney will not stand for re-election at the 2026 annual meeting, and his decision is not due to any disagreement with the company or its leadership.

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Insights

ExlService commits $125M to accelerated buyback within a $500M program.

ExlService Holdings is deploying $125 million through a fixed dollar accelerated share repurchase, within a larger $500 million authorization. The initial delivery of 3,346,720 shares, valued at approximately $100 million, immediately reduces the public float.

The final share count will be set using the Rule 10b-18 volume-weighted average price over a valuation period ending no later than the second quarter of 2026, less a discount. This structure shifts price risk to Morgan Stanley while locking in a defined capital return amount for the company.

Funding comes from cash on hand and borrowings under an existing credit facility, so the net effect combines increased leverage with reduced equity. Subsequent disclosures may clarify the final number of shares retired and any remaining capacity under the $500 million authorization.

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 16, 2026

 

 

 

EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-33089   82-0572194

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission File Number) 

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.) 

 

   

320 Park Avenue, 29th Floor,

New York, New York

 

10022

    (Address of principal executive offices)  

(Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 277-7100

 

NOT APPLICABLE

(Former name or address, if changed since last report)

 

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter)

 

¨ Emerging growth company
   
¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

EXLS

NASDAQ

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On March 16, 2026, ExlService Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a fixed dollar accelerated share repurchase transaction (the “ASR Transaction”) pursuant to a confirmation (the “ASR Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) to repurchase an aggregate of $125 million of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). The ASR Transaction is part of the Company’s $500 million share repurchase authorization approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) in February 2026.

 

Under the terms of the ASR Transaction, the Company made a payment of $125 million to Morgan Stanley, and received from Morgan Stanley on March 17, 2026 an initial delivery of 3,346,720 shares of Common Stock, which represents approximately $100 million based on the closing price of the Common Stock on March 16, 2026. The final number of shares of Common Stock to be repurchased under the ASR Transaction will be determined on completion of the ASR Transaction and will generally be based on the Rule 10b-18 volume-weighted average price of the Common Stock over a valuation period during the term of the ASR Transaction, less a discount and subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms and conditions of the ASR Agreement.

 

The final settlement of the ASR Transaction is expected to be completed no later than the second quarter of 2026, with the final settlement date determined by Morgan Stanley within an agreed range, subject to earlier termination and other customary adjustments and provisions as set forth in the ASR Agreement. At settlement of the ASR Transaction, Morgan Stanley may be required to deliver additional shares of Common Stock to the Company, or, under certain circumstances, the Company may be required to deliver shares of Common Stock to Morgan Stanley or, at the Company’s election, remit a settlement amount in cash to Morgan Stanley. The Company is funding the share repurchase under the ASR Transaction using cash on hand and borrowings under its existing credit facility.

 

The ASR Agreement contains terms and provisions governing the ASR Transaction which are customary for these types of transactions, and which include, but are not limited to, the mechanism used to determine the number of shares of Common Stock or the amount of cash that will be delivered at settlement, the required timing of delivery of the shares, the circumstances under which Morgan Stanley is permitted to make adjustments to valuation and calculation periods, various acknowledgements, representations and warranties made by the parties to one another, and the circumstances under which the ASR Transaction may be terminated early.

 

From time to time, Morgan Stanley and/or its affiliates have directly and indirectly engaged, and may engage in the future, in investment and/or commercial banking transactions with the Company for which Morgan Stanley has received, or may receive, customary compensation, fees and expense reimbursement.

 

The foregoing description of the ASR Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the ASR Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On March 16, 2026, Nitin Sahney, a member of the Board, notified the Board that he has decided not to stand for re-election at the Company’s 2026 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), at which time he will resign from the Board and the committees on which he currently serves. Mr. Sahney’s decision not to stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting did not arise from any disagreement with the Company, the Company’s management or the Board on any matters relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

 

 

 

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

The following exhibits are filed herewith:

 

Number   Description
10.1   Fixed Dollar Accelerated Share Repurchase Agreement dated March 16, 2026 between ExlService Holdings, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

  EXLSERVICE HOLDINGS, INC.
(Registrant)      
     
Date: March 18, 2026 By: /s/ AJAY AYYAPPAN
  Name: Ajay Ayyappan
  Title: Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 

 

 

FAQ

What share repurchase did ExlService Holdings (EXLS) announce in this 8-K?

ExlService Holdings entered a $125 million accelerated share repurchase. The company agreed with Morgan Stanley to repurchase $125 million of common stock under a fixed dollar ASR, as part of its broader $500 million share repurchase authorization approved in February 2026.

How many shares did ExlService (EXLS) initially receive under the ASR?

ExlService initially received 3,346,720 shares of common stock. These shares represented approximately $100 million of value, based on the closing price of ExlService’s common stock on March 16, 2026, following the company’s $125 million prepayment to Morgan Stanley.

How will the final number of EXLS shares in the ASR be determined?

The final share count will be based on a volume-weighted average price. It will generally depend on the Rule 10b-18 volume-weighted average price of ExlService’s stock over a valuation period, less a discount and subject to customary adjustments in the ASR Agreement.

When is ExlService’s $125 million ASR expected to settle?

The accelerated share repurchase is expected to settle by the second quarter of 2026. Morgan Stanley will determine the final settlement date within an agreed range, with provisions for earlier termination and other customary adjustments described in the ASR Agreement.

How is ExlService (EXLS) funding the accelerated share repurchase?

ExlService is using cash on hand and borrowings under its existing credit facility. The company prepaid $125 million to Morgan Stanley to launch the ASR, combining internal cash resources with debt to finance the share repurchase.

What board change did ExlService disclose regarding director Nitin Sahney?

Director Nitin Sahney will not stand for re-election at the 2026 annual meeting. He will resign from the board and its committees at that time. The company stated his decision was not due to any disagreement with management, operations, policies, or practices.

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4.67B
151.13M
Information Technology Services
Services-business Services, Nec
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United States
NEW YORK