Source: www.indiainfoline.com

HCL Technologies Ltd. (HCL), on August 25, 2008 announced signing of an agreement to fully acquire Control Point Solutions, Inc., the leading provider of voice, data and wireless Telecommunications Expense Management (TEM) services. Privately held, Control Point Solutions (CPS) leads the TEM market with robust platforms catering to both enterprises arid carriers across industry verticals.

As part of the transaction, HCL will acquire four delivery centres in US with over 200 professionals who come to HCL with domain knowledge and technical expertise. Control Point Solutions is being acquired at an enterprise valuation of US$20.8mn. This valuation is on cash free and debt free basis. This acquisition strengthens HCL’s unique advantage of providing multi-service delivery platforms for our customer with CPS’ TEM expertise complementing HCL’s remote infrastructure service offering.

Control Point Solutions is a market leader in the highly fragmented TEM industry with its internally developed robust platforms. Control Point Solutions’ technology has been a key differentiator that has demonstrated capability to support both the Enterprise and Carrier segments. Control Point Solutions customers include Fortune 500 organizations across a broad variety of industries.

For nearly two decades, Control Point Solutions has managed the entire telecom expense life cycle for clients, providing industry-leading solutions for their voice, data and wireless requirements.

Commenting on the acquisition, Ranjit Narasimhan, President and CEO- BPO Services of HCL Technologies, said, “The strategic acquisition of Control Point Solutions is in line with HCL BPO’s goal to make strategic, platform-based acquisitions which give us sustainable competitive advantage in chosen verticals. This acquisition enhances HCLs ability to become an end-to-end provider of business process outsourcing services in the attractive TEM space. With this acquisition, HCL becomes the first business process service provider to enter this market.

HCL will leverage its existing experience in TEM to further diversify into other geographies and newer areas like utilities, freight, to name a few. We are delighted to welcome the high quality staff of CPS into the HCL family, and we look to the continued leadership and caliber of its executive team to take TEM to the next generation.”

Commenting on the acquisition, Anil Chanana, Executive Vice President- Finance of HCL Technologies, mentioned, “The acquisition of Control Point is in continuation of HCL’s strategy to seek non-linear growth opportunity. This acquisition will further enhance HCL’s presence in F&A BPO space. We are confident of delivering Incremental shareholder value through our acquisitions.” Langham Capital Ltd acted as financial advisors to HCL. in the transaction. The acquisition is subject to fulfillment of certain closing conditions.

Source: newsinfo.inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines – Australia’s National Receivables Group (NRG) has chosen the Philippines over India in setting up its first overseas call center, according to its top official.

NRG provides services for financial services companies and holds offices in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

Michelle Bubke, NRG’s chief executive, said she was encouraged to visit the country after meeting with Business Process Association of the Philippines (B/PAP) officials in Sydney earlier this year.

Bubke recently visited the country to train agents of the company’s first international call center, located at the IBM Building in Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City.

“The tight labor market in Australia had made it difficult to expand operations nationally and we had been researching offshore options for more than 12 months,” Bubke said in a statement provided by B/PAP.

“Out of a number of possible locations, we chose the Philippines. Like most companies, I looked at India but discovered that the talent pool, time zone and lifestyle were superior in the Philippines,” she added.

NRG initially contracted call center servicers from local operator firm IP Contact Center Outsourcing Inc. (IPPCO) before deciding to set up its own operations in the country.

Unlike other customers, NRG employs agents working dayshifts. Bubke said her company plans to have at least 60 agents before year’s end and expand further to 600 agents within the next 18 months.”