IBEX (NasdaqGM:IBEX) Q4 2025 Earnings Call September 11, 2025 04:30 PM ET Company ParticipantsBob Dechant - CEOTaylor Greenwald - CFOMichael Darwal - Head of Investor RelationsConference Call ParticipantsDavid Koning - AnalystOperatorWelcome to the IBEX Fourth Quarter Full Year 2025 Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. After the speaker's presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session. To ask a question during the session, you will need to press *11 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fiscal year 2025 revenue reached $558.3 million, a 10% increase from the previous year, with Q4 revenues rising 18% year-over-year to $147.1 million [7][12] - Adjusted EBITDA for FY 2025 was $72 million, up more than 10% from the prior year, with a record adjusted EPS of $2.75, reflecting a 31% increase [8][20] - Free cash flow for Q4 was $23 million, marking the strongest quarter ever, and total free cash flow for the year was $27 million [8][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue growth was driven by retail and e-commerce (25% growth), health tech (19%), and travel, transportation, and logistics (10%) [12] - Digital and omnichannel services represented 82% of total revenue, up from 77% in the prior year, with a growth rate of 25% [12][18] - Offshore revenue grew 17% year-over-year, comprising 49% of total revenue, while onshore revenue increased 13% [12][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The fintech vertical's revenue share decreased to 10.6% from 13.7% year-over-year, while retail and e-commerce increased to 25.3% [17] - The company experienced growth in both onshore and offshore regions, with onshore revenue making up 24% of total revenue [18] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company has transitioned to BPO 3.0, focusing on AI solutions to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency [6][10] - The strategy emphasizes a blend of culture, technology (WaveX), and analytics to outperform competitors and capture market share [4][5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to continue outperforming the market, citing a strong balance sheet with zero net debt and robust free cash flow generation [9][10] - The company anticipates revenue for FY 2026 to be between $590 million and $610 million, with adjusted EBITDA expected to range from $75 million to $79 million [24] Other Important Information - The company has successfully entered the Indian market, marking a significant milestone in its expansion strategy [8] - Capital expenditures for FY 2025 were $18 million, up from $9 million in the prior year, driven by demand in high-margin regions [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Insights on Q4 performance and any one-time impacts - Management confirmed that the growth in Q4 was sustainable and driven by market share gains and strong operational performance [30] Question: Commentary on the impact of Gen AI - Management indicated that while there are opportunities for automation, owning the entire customer journey is crucial, and the company is well-positioned to leverage AI solutions [35][36]

Group 1 - The article discusses the rapid growth of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry in Africa, particularly in Kenya, as a response to the increasing global demand for digital labor such as AI training and data annotation [1][2] - Currently, there are approximately 1 million BPO workers in Africa, representing only 2% of the global total, but the sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of 14% by 2028, nearly double the global average [1] - Kenya's BPO workforce is projected to grow even faster at 19% annually, with the government planning to introduce a national BPO policy aimed at creating 1 million new jobs within five years [1] Group 2 - Africa has natural advantages for BPO, including a large young population, high English proficiency, and a cost-effective labor force, with Kenyan BPO employees earning about $233 per month, significantly lower than their counterparts in Europe and the US [1][2] - The article highlights a structural shift in the global labor market, with labor shortages in many Western countries prompting companies to seek new human resources in Africa [2] - The BPO industry is evolving from low-skill tasks to more complex roles involving language review and AI-assisted decision-making, indicating a need for talent upgrading and educational investment to fully capitalize on the opportunities [2]

Core Viewpoint - The BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) market is experiencing significant disruption due to advancements in AI technology, which presents both opportunities and challenges for traditional BPO companies and emerging AI startups [3][4][10]. BPO Market Overview - The BPO market is projected to exceed $300 billion in 2024 and is expected to surpass $525 billion by 2030, driven by the need for cost-effective handling of repetitive tasks such as customer support and IT outsourcing [3]. - Major BPO companies like Cognizant, Infosys, and Wipro reported revenues ranging from $10 billion to $20 billion in their latest fiscal years, indicating the scale and importance of the industry [8]. Challenges in Traditional BPO - Traditional BPO providers often face inefficiencies due to long processing times, lack of accountability, and insufficient background information, leading to poor customer experiences [3][6]. - Many BPO firms were established decades ago and rely on outdated systems and client relationships rather than cutting-edge technology [9]. AI's Role in BPO Transformation - Modern AI technologies are enabling the productization of BPO services, allowing for improved efficiency and customer experience [10][11]. - AI assistants can operate continuously, adapt to cultural norms, and support multilingual interactions, significantly reducing the need for human intervention [11]. Opportunities for AI Startups - AI startups are seizing opportunities in customer support, which constitutes the largest segment of BPO spending, exceeding $100 billion [14]. - Vertical-specific AI assistants are successfully productizing core BPO use cases, creating competitive barriers against general-purpose AI solutions [15]. Backend Operations and Cost Reduction - AI startups are effectively reducing BPO expenditures in backend operations by automating tasks such as data extraction and verification, which were traditionally labor-intensive [16]. - Companies like Loop are utilizing AI for invoice verification and claims management, demonstrating significant efficiency gains [16]. Competitive Landscape - Traditional BPO companies are beginning to adopt AI technologies, with firms like Wipro and Infosys reporting significant increases in AI adoption rates [19]. - The competition between established BPO firms and AI startups is intensifying, with startups having the advantage of agility and innovation [20]. Strategic Recommendations for Startups - Startups should focus on building AI-native companies that can productize BPO services and directly compete with traditional providers [21]. - Targeting industries that are reluctant to adopt software solutions and delivering results directly may be a viable strategy for market entry [22]. - Engaging in partnerships or acquisitions to enhance service offerings and customer bases can provide a competitive edge [21][22].