HTMT sets up Rs 60 crore centre in Bangalore

HTMT, a contact centre business company, has announced its expansion plans with the opening of a centre in Bangalore with an investment of Rs 60 crore.

Currently, HTMT has seven active clients with three in the insurance sector and four clients in the telecom space. The new facility would initially be used to service the existing clients.

R Mohan, president and chief executive officer, information technology division, HTMT, said, "Organic growth is key to our overall expansion plans. We have almost reached complete utilisation of our existing 1,100 seats at the Bangalore centre. As a result, we have bought out new space that can accommodate 1,450 seats. The first phase of this new centre will commence operations by the end of this month and start with around 400 seats."

Nearly 70 per cent of the 400 seats would be taken up by existing call centre agents of HTMT.

The company has said that it is on track to acquire C3, a Philippines-based call centre. In a week's time, HTMT will file an application with the Reserve Bank of India for obtaining necessary clearances to acquire controlling interest and management control of C3. The board of directors of Hinduja TMT had approved this acquisition in October this year. The transaction is expected to be completed by March 2004.

While HTMT also needs to acquire shareholders' approval for this acquisition, it is obvious that the company would gain a significant domain expertise.

HTMT is currently servicing seven clients in telecom, insurance, financial services and manufacturing sectors.

The acquisition would lead to serving nearly 20 other clients of C3 in areas such as banking, credit card services, consumer electronics and media and entertainment.

As the marketing tie-up with UVC would continue even after the acquisition, HTMT, along with c3, will also serve those clients sourced by UVC.