Capgemini wants to buy more Indian IT firms

France-based IT and consultancy services provider Capgemini will be on a shopping spree over the next three-four years. Their next acquisition, after Kanbay, would come as soon as next year.

The company refused to discuss its investment plans in the country, but with a turnover of euro 7 billion, the amount to be used for the acquisition would be "significant."

Nick Gill, global automotive segment leader of Capgemini, did not rule out the fact that the company was interested in buying out at least a couple of IT companies in India. The investment that would be required for the acquisition would be raised through internal resources.

Meanwhile, the Kanbay deal, when finalised in the first quarter of next year, would form the largest workforce in India. Apart from this, the company would also set up a dedicated centre for automotive excellence (ACE).

The company is aiming at increasing workforce to 35,000 in India by 2010. It currently operates from Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata with 6,000 people, and plans to increase the number to 10,000 by 2007.

"India has the potential to become the back-office power house of the world, especially for the automotive industry. There is abundance of resources available here like superior expertise and manforce, low cost of operations, equitable cost balacing structure and high quality of work," Gill said.