Date:08/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/08/stories/2006090806741500.htm

Business

Capgemini buys stake in HLL's BPO unit

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Capgemini group — global consulting, technology and outsourcing services provider — has acquired a 51 per cent stake in Unilever India Shared Services Ltd. (Indigo), the captive BPO subsidiary of Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL).

HLL has entered into a partnership agreement with the Capgemini group in this regard and the transaction is expected to be completed in October, HLL statement said here on Thursday. Following the deal, Indigo will become a third-party service provider and offer services to clients outside the Unilever fold.

Capgemini has about 6,000 professionals in India (in Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai) and aims to reach the strategic objective of 10,000 employees by the end of 2007. Indigo is a provider of financial shared services and Sarbanes Oxley compliance services to the Unilever group throughout the world. It has operating centres in Bangalore and Chennai and has nearly 600 professionals. It now serves Unilever companies.