18.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company maintains a 401(k) retirement plan that covers all regular employees on Syntel’s U.S. payroll. Eligible employees may contribute the lesser of 60% of their compensation or $18,000, subject to certain limitations, to the retirement plan. The Company may make contributions to the plan at the discretion of the Board of Directors; however, through September 30, 2015, no Company contributions have been made.

Eligible employees on Syntel’s Indian payroll receive benefits under the Provident Fund (“PF”), which is a defined contribution plan. Both the employee and the Company make monthly contributions equal to a specified percentage of the covered employee’s salary. The Company has no further obligations under the plan beyond its monthly contributions. The contributions made to the fund are administered and managed by the Government of India. The Company’s monthly contributions are expensed in the period they are incurred. Provident Fund Contribution expense recognized by Indian entities for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $1.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were $4.8 million and $3.00 million,respectively.

In accordance with the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 of India, the Indian subsidiary provides for gratuity, a defined retirement benefit plan (the “Gratuity Plan”) covering eligible employees. The Gratuity Plan provides a lump sum payment to vested employees at retirement, death, incapacitation or termination of employment, based on the respective employee’s salary and the tenure of employment. Liabilities with regard to the Gratuity Plan are determined by actuarial valuation and are expensed in the period determined. The Gratuity Plan is a non-funded plan. The amounts accrued under this plan are $13 million and $12.1 million as of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, and are included within current liabilities and in other non-current liabilities, as applicable. Expense recognized by Indian entities under the Gratuity Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 were $2.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively.