The Hindu Business Line : NIIT has big plans for China

After the group's software company NIIT Technologies Ltd acquired the UK-based Room Solutions, it is now the turn of the IT training firm NIIT Ltd to look for buy-outs in India, as well as the US and European markets.

"We are looking at inorganic activity as a very important strategy of our growth. There are customer needs and contacts we can accelerate fast if we can join hands or acquire a company. We are actively examining both the options, that of strategic investment and acquisition," said NIIT Ltd Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Vijay Thadani.

India is one of the markets where NIIT is eyeing acquisition opportunities. "There are lot of small players, who could contribute something... In case of overseas market, we are looking at the US and Europe," Mr Thadani said. The company now focuses largely on corporate clients in the US and the UK markets.

Other acquisitions

In January 2002, NIIT Ltd had announced acquisition of the custom development business of the US-based Click2learn for $3 million as part of a strategic alliance between both the companies. Other acquisitions in its kitty include the US-based Cognitive Arts, which gave the company access to the US corporate knowledge solutions market; and takeover of content, technology and brand of e-Gurucool, a key provider of e-learning in the schools segment, to enhance the company's presence in the IT-assisted education space.

Mr Thadani, however, declined to specify a timeframe for the next acquisition. "In the event of an acquisition, we prefer to go for a cash deal," he pointed out.

Expansion strategy

Commenting on the company's expansion strategy this year, Mr Thadani said NIIT Ltd is looking to invest over Rs 100 crore to grow its business during the fiscal.

He said that the company also planned to expand its operations in China, where it now has 120 centres. "We will add 25 new centres this year. We aim to build a large IT manpower pool in China by becoming a single window education solution provider offering classroom training, corporate training, e-learning and training in schools," he said.

More Stories on : Off-shore Development | Mergers & Acquisitions | IT Training

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