Date:23/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/03/23/stories/2006032300750400.htm

Back Ybrant Tech plans US acquisition

V. Rishi Kumar

Hyderabad , March 22

Ybrant Technologies, an Internet marketing technology company, plans to expand its offerings into providing eMarketing consultancy services. It is in the process of acquiring a US-based e-marketing firm.

The Founder-Chairman of Ybrant Technologies, Mr Suresh Reddy, told Business Line, "In a couple of months we expect to finalise the US acquisition, which would be in the related e-marketing area. This could mean an investment of about $10 million. The only way to grow in this marketplace is through acquisition of clients, and acquisition would help."

After the initial hype days when the dotcoms sprung up phenomenally, they went through a significant correction and consolidation is the order of the day. While all companies seek to get hooked up to the Internet and tap the potential market out on the Web, many old technology companies require specialised tools and services, which Ybrant is well positioned to offer, he said.

As an outsourced e-marketing technology solutions provider, Ybrant last year entered into a $5-million venture with Hula Direct, another e-marketing company that aggregates publishers.

Ybrant's clients include Yahoo.Mr Reddy said e-marketing has emerged as one of the fastest growing and profitable sectors of the online business covering diverse requirements. Right from providing email-marketing platforms to providing executing tools that help monitor and measure marketing techniques, these help build a company brand over the Internet.