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Birlasoft Aims 31% Rev Growth
Birlasoft, the IT arm of the $1.2 bn CK Birla group, is working to become a quarter billion dollar ($250 mn) organization by 2008. For FY 2005-06, the company expects to grow approximately 31% y-o-y in revenue, and 35% in headcount. Its offshore revenue is also expected to increase by 62%. The company's Hyderabad facility is ready now and it is also setting up a 2,000-seat facility in Noida.

Hinduja TMT Announces Demerger
Hinduja TMT has granted approval for the demerger of its IT/ITeS undertaking into a new company, while simultaneously merging its media and content subsidiary InNetwork Entertainment into the residual entity. Both the companies would be listed on the BSE and NSE and the current shareholders of the company would be allotted shares of both the companies in proportion to the capital employed in the respective businesses.

Madhuvan Launches BPO, KPO
Ahmedabad-based Madhuvan Infotech (MINFO), has launched its BPO and KPO divisions. With a combined capacity of over 200 seats, MINFO provides a full range of finance and accounting outsourcing services, and also offers capabilities in the areas of transaction processing for a range of industries including insurance and health care.

APEJ BPO Mkt to Reach $14 Bn
Business process outsourcing in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) market shows moderate growth from 2006 to 2010, predicts research firm IDC. "Even though APEJ is a main center for BPO, majority of the contracts will still be derived outside of the region, mainly from the US and Western Europe. Local adoption will be more opportunistic," said Conrad Chang, IDC's senior market analyst for A-Pac BPO Services Research.

Nasscom on SEZs
Nasscom has released a statement on the decision taken by the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on the issue of minimum area required for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs). With its amendment, the new SEZ scheme is now more favorable for the Indian ITeS and BPO sectors. In keeping with Nasscom's thrust, it will ensure growth of the sector is not limited only to metro cities, but also spreads to smaller towns. The industry will now also be able to maximize employment across the country thus, enabling much more equitable development of different regions, while minimizing the strain on infrastructure of already stretched cities.

Zavata's BPO Center in Kondapur
Zavata India, a BPO company, has commissioned its new delivery center at Kondapur on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The company aims to make this a world-class center providing all facilities along with enhanced voice based facilities to enhance their existing service.

Wipro's Profit Up
Wipro has announced an increase in the annual net profit by 27%, as its IT revenues crossed the $2 bn mark during fiscal 2005-06. According to the company's financial statement for FY 2006, its global IT business revenue grew by 33% to Rs 8,066 crore, while revenues from India, Middle East and Asia-Pacific shot up by 22% to Rs 1,705 crore. "Combined revenues from our global and regional IT business grew by 55% y-o-y to Rs 9,772 crore or $2.1 bn, under the Indian GAAP.

TCS Joins UGS Partner Program
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has joined the UGS Partner Program as a UGS System Integration Alliance Partner. The two companies will work to create focused solutions for key vertical markets such as telecom, pharmaceutical, chemical, oil and gas, and media and entertainment, using UGS' PLM technology. The relationship will help UGS enhance its market presence, reach new markets and penetrate into TCS' customer base with its PLM products, while TCS will leverage its global delivery capability and industry domain expertise to deliver customer specific solutions that provide strong return on investment.

NIIT Buys UK Firm
NIIT Technologies has acquired UK-based insurance solution provider Room Solutions for around $25 mn. Arvind Thakur, chief executive of NIIT Technologies, said that the company is buying a 51% stake in Room Solutions. It will acquire the remaining equity over 18 months and Room Solutions will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of NIIT Technologies by the end of 2007. The London-based company had a turnover of $25 mn in 2005.

UGS Q1 Revenue Up 8%
UGS, a global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, has reported an 8% growth in revenue to $273.8 mn during the first quarter. Software revenue increased to $205.2 mn (including license and maintenance revenues), or an 11% growth as compared to the first quarter 2005. On a constant currency basis, the company saw an increase of 15%. EBITDA was $48.1 mn. The firm's operating loss was $5.5 mn and includes the impact of acquisition-related intangible amortization costs of $39.3 mn.