New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) Hexaware Technologies Ltd today posted a 53 per cent increase in its net profit at Rs 20.8 crore for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006, as against Rs 15.14 crore for the corresponding period last year.

The company's board has declared an interim dividend of 2.95 per cent per annum on Preference Shares, and 40 per cent (Re 0.80 per share) on equity shares of Rs 2 for the six months ended June 30, 2006.

The total income stood at Rs 212.89 crore for Q2 FY07 where as the same was at Rs 167 crore in Q2 FY06.

''This has been one of the best quarters for Hexaware in recent times. We have added 15 new clients, the largest the company has ever registered in a single quarter. With over 600 Hexawarians adding to the global headcount, we are confident we will cross the 5500 count by end of the year,'' said Hexaware Executive Chairman Atul Nishar.

The company's order booking exceeding 50 million dollars and million dollar clients were up by five to 36, a company statement said.

''The fall in gross margin due to wage increase has been offset to a large extent by reducing SG&A costs. We will recover margins in next two quarters," Hexaware Vice Chairman and CEO Rusi Brij said.

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