Latest news with #WNS
CNBC
18 hours ago
- Business
- CNBC
India expects 'preferential' tariffs in a trade deal with U.S., says India's commerce minister
India expects to secure "preferential" tariffs from the United States that are better than those achieved by its economic rivals, according to India's commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal. Goyal, who led the negotiations on the U.K.-India trade agreement, signaled a confident approach from New Delhi in ongoing trade talks with Washington. "India will get a preferential tariff compared to our peers and our competitors, because we were amongst the first to get into negotiations and our discussions, our engagement is truly very, very significant," Goyal told CNBC on Thursday. His comments were in response to a question about whether India could hope for better terms than the tariffs currently faced by Japan and Vietnam on some of their U.S. imports. Their exports face 15% and 20% duties, respectively. The minister said the negotiations were "progressing extremely well" towards a deal aimed at achieving the $500 billion bilateral trade target by 2030 , a goal previously set by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I have excellent relations with my good friend, [U.S.] Commerce Secretary, Mr Howard Lutnick," Goyal said. "The United States and India share a very special relationship, and I'm very confident we'll do a robust and good deal where both countries benefit and where businesses on both sides are happy." Lutnick is leading the U.S. trade negotiating team. The optimism was echoed by business leaders, who predicted that while a deal would be reached, India would negotiate from a position of strength. Keshav Murugesh, chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry UK Business Forum, told CNBC that Indian negotiators would handle talks "strictly on merits" and "India will not be a pushover." Murugesh, also the chief executive of business services firm WNS , suggested that both sides are sufficiently motivated, noting that President Trump "and his people want a good deal with India because, let's face it, India is the future." India's Goyal also said the push for a U.S. deal is part of a deliberate policy to partner with "developed nations who complement the India story," a move away from past agreements with countries seen as direct competitors. He cited India's decision to withdraw from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) as an example of this, describing the pact as something that "would have otherwise been like a China-India FTA." His comments came on the day India and the United Kingdom finalized their free trade agreement. The bilateral deal, first announced in May , will see the U.K. benefit from lower tariffs on key exports such as whisky and cars, which will kick in over several years. Meanwhile, India will gain tariff-free access on 99% of imports from day one of the agreement. While expressing confidence in the U.S. talks, Goyal acknowledged sensitive issues remain. When asked if agriculture was a sticking point , he declined to comment specifically on the trade discussions but added that the sector was sensitive to India. "We are always very sensitive to the interests of our farmers, the interests of our MSMEs, and will ensure that our areas of concern are well protected," Goyal added. The issue is critical for Modi's government, as the vast agricultural sector employs a huge portion of India's population and represents a powerful political constituency. Protecting farmers from foreign competition is a long-standing government priority. Goyal added that the U.S. side understood India's position, saying, "the Trump administration, and my counterparts are equally cognizant and sensitive about our concerns." — CNBC's George Bextor contributed reporting.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egypt: Capgemini fosters AI-powered business by acquiring WNS in $3.3bln deal
Arab Finance: Global business and technology transformation partner Capgemini has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire WNS, a leading digital business process services (BPS) provider, according to a press release. Valued at $3.3 billion ($76.50 per share), the acquisition anchors Capgemini's position as a global leader in Agentic AI-powered Intelligent Operations. Under the partnership, the two entities will combine WNS's sector-specific platforms and automation expertise with Capgemini's consulting-led AI and cloud capabilities. The integration gathers Capgemini's consulting-led digital transformation expertise and WNS's industry-leading Digital BPS capabilities, offering unmatched scale and innovation potential. Meanwhile, the deal is expected to be accretive to Capgemini's normalized earnings per share (EPS) by 4% in 2026 and 7% in 2027 post-synergies. This milestone bolsters Capgemini's leadership in AI-driven business transformation, empowering enterprises with intelligent automation and next-generation process innovation. © 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Business Wire
a day ago
- Business
- Business Wire
WNS Announces Fiscal 2026 First Quarter Earnings
NEW YORK & LONDON & MUMBAI, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WNS (Holdings) Limited (WNS) (NYSE: WNS), a digital-led business transformation and services company, today announced results for the fiscal 2026 first quarter ended June 30, 2025. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures discussed below to our GAAP operating results are included at the end of this release. See also 'About Non-GAAP Financial Measures.' Revenue in the first quarter was $353.8 million, representing a 9.5% increase versus Q1 of last year and an increase of 5.2% from the previous quarter. Revenue less repair payments* in the first quarter was $339.9 million, increasing 8.8% year-over-year and 5.2% sequentially. Excluding exchange rate impacts, constant currency revenue less repair payments* in the fiscal first quarter was up 7.1% versus Q1 of last year and up 2.9% sequentially. Year-over-year, revenue growth driven by new client additions, the expansion of existing relationships, our acquisition of and favorable currency movements was partially offset by headwinds from the loss of a large Healthcare client and lower volumes in the online travel segment. Sequentially, broad-based revenue growth, higher transaction volumes, our acquisition of and favorable currency movements were partially offset by the impact of annual client productivity commitments. Profit in the fiscal first quarter was $21.8 million, as compared to $28.9 million in Q1 of last year and $50.8 million in the previous quarter. Year-over-year, profit decreased as a result of increased expenses which are excluded from ANI*, relating to acquisition costs and amortization of intangibles from our acquisition of transaction expenses related to the proposed acquisition of the company by Capgemini, and share-based compensation including statutory employment taxes and insurance. Additionally, year-over-year profit was adversely impacted by increased investments and hiring in advance of revenue ramps for large deals. These headwinds were partially offset by higher volumes and favorable currency movements. Sequentially, Q1 profit reduced as a result of a $12.2 million benefit from a facility asset sale in Q4'25, typical business seasonality driven by Q1 annual client productivity commitments and wage increases, and ongoing investments. Q1 quarter-over-quarter profit was also adversely impacted by increases in expenses which are excluded from ANI* including acquisition costs and amortization of intangibles related to the acquisition of share-based compensation including statutory employment taxes and insurance, and transaction expenses related to the proposed acquisition of the company by Capgemini. These headwinds were partially offset by higher volumes and favorable currency movements. Adjusted net income (ANI)* in Q1 was $46.0 million, as compared to $44.0 million in Q1 of last year and $66.2 million in the previous quarter. Explanations for the ANI* movements on a year-over-year and sequential basis are the same as described for GAAP profit above excluding changes in those items included in the ANI* definition presented in the 'About Non-GAAP Financial Measures' section of our financial schedules below. From a balance sheet perspective, WNS ended Q1 with $225.8 million in cash and investments and $266.2 million in debt. In the quarter, the company generated $29.5 million in cash from operations, incurred $14.8 million in capital expenditures, and repaid $21.1 million in debt. WNS also repurchased 1,300,000 ordinary shares at an average price of $57.98, impacting Q1 cash by $75.4 million. First quarter days sales outstanding were 36 days, as compared to 36 days reported in Q1 of last year and 34 days in the previous quarter. 'In the fiscal first quarter, WNS delivered solid growth in constant currency revenue less repair payments* of 7.1% year-over-year and 2.9% sequentially. Our acquisition of contributed 2.0% and 1.5%, respectively, and revenue momentum for this differentiated capability remains robust. In Q1, WNS also delivered adjusted net income* and adjusted EPS* ahead of company expectations and completed our authorized share buyback program by repurchasing 1.3 million ordinary shares,' said Keshav Murugesh, WNS' Chief Executive Officer. 'As we work toward closing the previously announced transaction with Capgemini, the WNS Board and management team are confident that this combination will better position us to address our rapidly evolving market, while unlocking new innovation and growth opportunities. Together, we are creating an industry-changing force uniting cutting edge AI and technology with deep domain and process expertise to deliver 'Intelligent Operations' for clients. This shared vision of our two companies, along with our shared values, will drive long-term, sustainable value for all our stakeholders including clients, employees, investors, and local communities.' Pending Acquisition by Capgemini On July 7, 2025, WNS (Holdings) Ltd. announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Capgemini. As noted in the company's July 11, 2025 press release, WNS will not hold a fiscal Q1 2026 conference call or provide an update to guidance for the fiscal year 2026 in light of the transaction. For further details and discussion of the company's financial performance, please refer to WNS' upcoming quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, which will be filed with the SEC on or before August 8, 2025. The company also disclosed that the contract of CEO Keshav Murugesh has been extended through the earlier of August 5, 2026 or the closure of the Capgemini acquisition. * See 'About Non-GAAP Financial Measures' and the reconciliations of the historical non-GAAP financial measures to our GAAP operating results at the end of this release. About WNS WNS (Holdings) Limited (NYSE: WNS) is a digital-led business transformation and services company. WNS combines deep domain expertise with talent, technology, and AI to co-create innovative solutions for over 700 clients across various industries. WNS delivers an entire spectrum of solutions including industry-specific offerings, customer experience services, finance and accounting, human resources, procurement, and research and analytics to re-imagine the digital future of businesses. As of June 30, 2025, WNS had 66,085 professionals across 65 delivery centers worldwide including facilities in Canada, China, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For more information, visit Safe Harbor Statement This release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the safe harbor provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions about our Company and our industry. Generally, these forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'will,' 'seek,' 'should' and similar expressions. These statements include, among other things, expressed or implied forward-looking statements relating to discussions of our strategic initiatives and the expected resulting benefits, our growth opportunities, industry environment, our expectations concerning our future financial performance and growth potential, including estimated capital expenditures, and expected foreign currency exchange rates. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to our pending acquisition by Capgemini S.E., including our expectations relating to timing and completion of the transaction, worldwide economic and business conditions, our dependence on a limited number of clients in a limited number of industries; currency fluctuations; political or economic instability in the jurisdictions where we have operations; regulatory, legislative and judicial developments; increasing competition in the BPM industry; technological innovation; our liability arising from fraud or unauthorized disclosure of sensitive or confidential client and customer data; telecommunications or technology disruptions; our ability to attract and retain clients; negative public reaction in the US or the UK to offshore outsourcing; our ability to collect our receivables from, or bill our unbilled services to our clients; our ability to expand our business or effectively manage growth; our ability to hire and retain enough sufficiently trained employees to support our operations; the effects of our different pricing strategies or those of our competitors; our ability to successfully consummate, integrate and achieve accretive benefits from our strategic acquisitions, and to successfully grow our revenue and expand our service offerings and market share; future regulatory actions and conditions in our operating areas; our ability to manage the impact of climate change on our business; and volatility of our share price. These and other factors are more fully discussed in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 6-K and Form 8-K filed with or furnished to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which are available at We caution you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. References to '$' and 'USD' refer to the United States dollars, the legal currency of the United States; references to 'GBP' refer to the British pound, the legal currency of Britain; and references to 'INR' refer to Indian Rupees, the legal currency of India. References to GAAP or US GAAP refer to United States generally accepted accounting principles. References to IFRS refer to International Financial Reporting Standards, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. WNS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (Unaudited, amounts in millions, except share and per share data) As at Jun 30, 2025 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 100.9 $ 106.9 Investments 121.3 156.9 Accounts receivable, net 140.7 129.7 Unbilled revenue 119.3 108.1 Funds held for clients 9.5 7.1 Derivative assets 9.5 12.7 Contract assets 15.0 15.1 Prepaid expense and other current assets 31.7 28.3 Total current assets 548.1 564.8 Goodwill 417.5 409.6 Other intangible assets, net 117.8 122.6 Property and equipment, net 86.2 80.8 Operating lease right-of-use assets 207.7 186.8 Derivative assets 2.6 3.2 Deferred tax assets 56.0 48.7 Investments 3.6 3.6 Contract assets 59.0 58.8 Other assets 70.3 68.5 TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,568.8 $ 1,547.5 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 25.8 $ 29.2 Provisions and accrued expenses 41.1 33.4 Derivative liabilities 12.4 5.8 Pension and other employee obligations 87.3 108.2 Short-term borrowings 55.0 15.0 Current portion of long-term debt 70.1 68.7 Contract liabilities 18.3 15.8 Income taxes payable 13.9 4.6 Operating lease liabilities 28.9 28.1 Other liabilities 20.8 12.1 Total current liabilities 373.5 321.0 Derivative liabilities 3.8 1.1 Pension and other employee obligations, less current portion 26.7 24.8 Long-term debt, less current portion 141.2 159.8 Contract liabilities 19.1 18.8 Operating lease liabilities, less current portion 188.6 166.3 Other liabilities 0.1 0.1 Deferred tax liabilities 18.0 18.0 TOTAL LIABILITIES $ 771.1 $ 709.8 Shareholders' equity: Share capital (ordinary shares $0.16 (£0.10) par value, authorized 60,000,000 shares; issued: 42,893,906 shares and 46,396,722 shares; each as at June 30, 2025 and March 31, 2025, respectively) 7.0 7.4 Additional paid-in capital 5.0 37.5 Retained earnings 1,049.4 1,208.0 Other reserves 2.6 2.7 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (266.1 ) (268.1 ) Total shareholders' equity including shares held in treasury $ 797.8 $ 987.4 Less: Nil shares as at June 30, 2025 and 2,800,000 shares as at March 31, 2025, held in treasury, at cost — (149.7 ) Total shareholders' equity $ 797.8 $ 837.7 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 1,568.8 $ 1,547.5 Expand About Non-GAAP Financial Measures The financial information in this release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures that we believe more accurately reflect our core operating performance. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to our GAAP operating results are included below. A more detailed discussion of our GAAP results is contained in 'Part II – Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 13, 2025. Revenue less repair payments is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated as (a) revenue less (b) in our BFSI segment, payments to repair centers for 'fault' repair cases where WNS acts as the principal in its dealings with the third party repair centers and its clients. WNS believes that revenue less repair payments for 'fault' repairs reflects more accurately the value addition of the business process management services that it directly provides to its clients. For more details, please see the discussion in 'Part II – Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations' in our annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on May 13, 2025. Constant currency revenue less repair payments is a non-GAAP financial measure. We present constant currency revenue less repair payments so that revenue less repair payments may be viewed without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of business performance. Constant currency revenue less repair payments is presented by recalculating prior period's revenue less repair payments denominated in currencies other than in US dollars using the foreign exchange rate used for the latest period, without taking into account the impact of hedging gains/losses. Our non-US dollar denominated revenues include, but are not limited to, revenues denominated in pound sterling, South African rand, Australian dollar and Euro. WNS also presents or discusses (1) adjusted operating margin, which refers to adjusted operating profit (calculated as operating profit / (loss) excluding goodwill & intangible impairment, share-based compensation expense and certain related statutory employment tax and insurance contributions, acquisition-related expenses or benefits, costs related to the exchange of ADSs to ordinary shares, costs related to change to US GAAP reporting and voluntarily filing on US domestic issuer forms with SEC, transaction expenses related to the proposed acquisition of the company by Capgemini S.E. and amortization of intangible assets) as a percentage of revenue less repair payments, (2) ANI, which is calculated as profit excluding goodwill & intangible impairment, share-based compensation expense and certain related statutory employment tax and insurance contributions, acquisition-related expenses or benefits, costs related to the termination of ADS program and listing of ordinary shares, costs related to the transition to voluntarily reporting on US domestic issuer forms, transaction expenses related to the proposed acquisition of the company by Capgemini S.E. and amortization of intangible assets and including the tax effect thereon, (3) Adjusted net income margin, which refers to ANI as a percentage of revenue less repair payments, and other non-GAAP financial measures included in this release as supplemental measures of its performance. Acquisition-related expenses or benefits consists of transaction costs, integration expenses, employment-linked earn-out as part of deferred consideration and changes in the fair value of contingent consideration including the impact of present value thereon. WNS presents these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes they assist investors in comparing its performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that are non-recurring in nature and those it believes are not indicative of its core operating performance. In addition, it uses these non-GAAP financial measures (i) to evaluate the effectiveness of its business strategies and (ii) (with certain adjustments) as a factor in evaluating management's performance when determining incentive compensation. WNS is excluding acquisition-related expenses as described above with effect from fiscal 2023 second quarter. These non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for WNS' financial results prepared in accordance with US-GAAP. Reconciliation of operating income (GAAP to non-GAAP) Three months ended Jun 30, 2025 Jun 30, 2024 Mar 31, 2025 (Amounts in millions) Operating income (GAAP) $ 33.1 $ 38.6 $ 50.3 Add: Share-based compensation expense 11.7 11.2 9.4 Add: Statutory employment tax and insurance contributions 1.3 — — Add: Acquisition-related expenses 4.1 0.6 2.0 Add: Costs related to the termination of ADS program and listing of ordinary shares — 0.1 — Add: Costs related to the transition to voluntarily reporting on US domestic issuer forms — 0.3 — Add: Transaction expenses related to the proposed acquisition of the company by Capgemini S.E. 2.2 — — Add: Amortization of intangible assets 8.7 6.9 7.5 Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP) $ 61.1 $ 57.6 $ 69.3 Operating income as a percentage of revenue (GAAP) 9.4 % 11.9 % 15.0 % Adjusted operating income as a percentage of revenue less repair payments (non-GAAP) 18.0 % 18.4 % 21.4 % Expand Reconciliation of net income (GAAP) to ANI (non-GAAP) Three months ended Jun 30, 2025 Jun 30, 2024 Mar 31, 2025 (Amounts in millions, except per share data) Net income (GAAP) $ 21.8 $ 28.9 $ 50.8 Add: Share-based compensation expense 11.7 11.2 9.4 Add: Statutory employment tax and insurance contributions 1.3 — — Add: Acquisition-related expenses / (benefits), net 4.1 0.8 1.8 Add: Costs related to the termination of ADS program and listing of ordinary shares — 0.1 — Add: Costs related to the transition to voluntarily reporting on US domestic issuer forms — 0.3 — Add: Transaction expenses related to the proposed acquisition of the company by Capgemini S.E. 2.2 — — Add: Amortization of intangible assets 8.7 6.9 7.5 Less: Tax impact on above (1) (3.8 ) (4.1 ) (3.4 ) Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) $ 46.0 $ 44.0 $ 66.2 Net income as a percentage of revenue (GAAP) 6.1 % 9.0 % 15.1 % Adjusted net income as a percentage of revenue less repair payments (non-GAAP) 13.5 % 14.1 % 20.5 % Adjusted diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) $ 1.02 $ 0.93 $ 1.45 (1) The company applies GAAP methodologies in computing the tax impact on its non-GAAP ANI adjustments (including amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related expenses and share-based compensation expense). The company's non-GAAP tax expense is generally higher than its GAAP tax expense if the income subject to taxes is higher considering the effect of the items excluded from GAAP profit to arrive at non-GAAP profit. Expand
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Brit teen left fighting for her life after ear infection on idyllic Greek holiday turned into nightmare health battle
A BRIT teen holidaying on an idyllic Greek island has been left fighting for her life after an ear infection turned into a nightmare health battle. Millie Bayles, 19, now remains in intensive care at an Athens hospital after jetting out on a sunshine holiday to the island of Rhodes. 6 Millie Bayles was on her dream summer holiday in Greece when she developd an ear infection Credit: WNS 6 She was soon diagnosed with bacterial meningitis Credit: WNS 6 The Brit teen remains in intensive care at an Athens hospital Credit: WNS Her family said she first noticed symptoms of an ear infection - but it turned into something much more serious. Millie, who comes from North Wales, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis - leaving her family with a £40,000 bill to get her home. She was moved 300 miles from the island to intensive care in the Greek capital. The Brit teen, who is said to be out of immediate danger, remains in a semi-conscious state. read more world news Mum Lauren Murphy and stepfather Pete flew out to be by her side as doctors battle to get her well. Millie unfortunately failed to take out travel insurance when she went with friends for the summer break. Her mum has now received a quote for tens of thousands of pounds to pay for her medical bills and bring her back to the UK. Lauren has been left no choice but to turn to the public for help to pay for her treatment - which includes a private medical emergency flight. Most read in The Sun The family have reached their £40,000 target on their appeal with more than 900 donations from family, friends and even strangers - and hope to get Millie home soon. Lauren said: "We are now at the stage where we can look to bring Millie back to the UK. I caught brain-swelling virus after snorkelling on holiday "She is out of immediate danger, but she has a long road to recovery ahead of her." "She is still only semi-conscious, and we have yet to see how badly this illness will have affected her brain in the long term. "Unfortunately, due to being an invincible young person, Millie neglected to take out any holiday insurance, and so we have to fund her medical flight home privately. "We desperately need help to get our girl back to her home country so she can continue her recovery process." Step-father Pete Murphy said: "I am so overwhelmed by the immediate generosity of all of you lovely people and plenty that are certainly not on my friend list. "Myself, Lauren and Millie are so grateful for your kind donations. Millie has got a long battle ahead but she certainly has a lot of people routing for her and we can't thank you enough for that." What is meningitis and how you can you avoid getting it? MENINGITIS is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It can be very serious if not treated quickly - it can cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves. Symptoms include: a high temperature (fever) being sick a headache a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop) a stiff neck a dislike of bright lights drowsiness or unresponsiveness seizures (fits) Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis. Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis. Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through: sneezing coughing kissing Vaccinations offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis. These include the: 6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age Source: NHS 6 The nightmare incident happened on the popular holiday island of Rhodes in Greece Credit: Getty 6 Her family have turned to the public for help to pay for her treatment Credit: WNS 6
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Brit teen left fighting for her life after ear infection on idyllic Greek holiday turned into nightmare health battle
Millie unfortunately failed to take out travel insurance on the summer break HOLS HORROR Brit teen left fighting for her life after ear infection on idyllic Greek holiday turned into nightmare health battle Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRIT teen holidaying on an idyllic Greek island has been left fighting for her life after an ear infection turned into a nightmare health battle. Millie Bayles, 19, now remains in intensive care at an Athens hospital after jetting out on a sunshine holiday to the island of Rhodes. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Millie Bayles was on her dream summer holiday in Greece when she developd an ear infection Credit: WNS 6 She was soon diagnosed with bacterial meningitis Credit: WNS 6 The Brit teen remains in intensive care at an Athens hospital Credit: WNS Her family said she first noticed symptoms of an ear infection - but it turned into something much more serious. Millie, who comes from North Wales, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis - leaving her family with a £40,000 bill to get her home. She was moved 300 miles from the island to intensive care in the Greek capital. The Brit teen, who is said to be out of immediate danger, remains in a semi-conscious state. Mum Lauren Murphy and stepfather Pete flew out to be by her side as doctors battle to get her well. Millie unfortunately failed to take out travel insurance when she went with friends for the summer break. Her mum has now received a quote for tens of thousands of pounds to pay for her medical bills and bring her back to the UK. Lauren has been left no choice but to turn to the public for help to pay for her treatment - which includes a private medical emergency flight. The family have reached their £40,000 target on their appeal with more than 900 donations from family, friends and even strangers - and hope to get Millie home soon. Lauren said: "We are now at the stage where we can look to bring Millie back to the UK. I caught brain-swelling virus after snorkelling on holiday "She is out of immediate danger, but she has a long road to recovery ahead of her." "She is still only semi-conscious, and we have yet to see how badly this illness will have affected her brain in the long term. "Unfortunately, due to being an invincible young person, Millie neglected to take out any holiday insurance, and so we have to fund her medical flight home privately. "We desperately need help to get our girl back to her home country so she can continue her recovery process." Step-father Pete Murphy said: "I am so overwhelmed by the immediate generosity of all of you lovely people and plenty that are certainly not on my friend list. "Myself, Lauren and Millie are so grateful for your kind donations. Millie has got a long battle ahead but she certainly has a lot of people routing for her and we can't thank you enough for that." What is meningitis and how you can you avoid getting it? MENINGITIS is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges). It can be very serious if not treated quickly - it can cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves. Symptoms include: a high temperature (fever) being sick a headache a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop) a stiff neck a dislike of bright lights drowsiness or unresponsiveness seizures (fits) Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis. Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection. Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis. Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through: sneezing coughing kissing Vaccinations offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis. These include the: MenB vaccine – offered to babies aged 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year 6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age pneumococcal vaccine – 2 doses offered to babies at 12 weeks and 1 year, and a single dose offered to adults aged 65 or over Hib/MenC vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year of age MMR vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year and a second dose at 3 years and 4 months MenACWY vaccine – offered to teenagers, sixth formers and "fresher" students going to university for the first time Source: NHS 6 The nightmare incident happened on the popular holiday island of Rhodes in Greece Credit: Getty 6 Her family have turned to the public for help to pay for her treatment Credit: WNS
