20 Biggest IT employers in India in 2009

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GE Capital International Services (GECIS), the India-based business process services operations of GE Capital is the tenth biggest IT employer in the Nasscom's list. In 2005, with equity investments from General Atlantic and Oak Hill Capital Partners, it became an independent company and was rebranded Genpact.

As of 2008, the company had over 36,200 employees. Currently the company has a global network of over 35 operations centers spread across 12 countries.

Genpact claims to draw on three core capabilities -- process expertise, analytical ability and technology expertise.

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The 11th biggest employer in India is TechMahindra (without including Satyam employees). Tech Mahindra is a joint venture between Indian auto major Mahindra & Mahindra and the BT group. The telecom solutions provider counts BT and AT&T among its largest customers.

Tech Mahindra consolidated headcount increased by 510 employees to 25,482 at the end of June. In April this year, the company won an open bid to acquire 31 percent stake in Satyam for Rs 1,757 crore ($351.4 million). In the last quarter, Tech Mahindra reported 49.08 per cent plunge in net profit at Rs 131.62 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 owing to the interest costs on borrowings the company incurred after acquiring Satyam.

As of June 30, 2009, the company's debt stood at Rs 2,380.2 crore, the company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

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At no. 12th is Essar Group's back office Aegis BPO. The company recently announced its plans to increase its global workforce by 12,000, summing up the total headcount to 43,000, by end of this fiscal.

The company plans to hire 1,000 people every month in India and across United States, Philippines, Costa Rica and Africa where it has operations. The company claimed to have already hired some 3,000 people since the beginning of this fiscal year.

Despite the global downturn, Aegis is eyeing a turnover of over $550 million and aims to grow by over 50% in 2009-10. This month the Gurgaon-based BPO provider announced the 100 percent acquisition of South African contact centre outsourcer CCN group. CCN has been in the BPO business for seven years, with revenues in excess of 150 million rands ($18 million) last fiscal.

In May, Aegis acquired Australia-based UCMS Group for $40.7 million (Rs 200 crore). Aegis' Australian affiliate, Aegis BPO Services Australia, was suppose to pay UCMS shareholders $0.68 per share. With this acquisition, Aegis added some 2,000 UCMS employees.

Aegis services several Fortune 500 companies worldwide in the telecom, banking, financial services, insurance, healthcare and travel verticals.

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At no. 13th is the Nasdaq listed second biggest BPO firm in India, WNS Global Services. The BPO services provider recently entered into a strategic relationship with Trintech Group. Through its relationship with Trintech, WNS aims to improve its positioning in the governance, risk, and compliance solutions space.

Last year, WNS announced the acquisition of Aviva Global Services (AGS), the BPO arm of insurance major Aviva, for $228 million. The Warburg Pincus-controlled WNS also signed a $1 billion BPO contract with Aviva.

In January this year, Neeraj Bhargava, co-founder and CEO of WNS resigned from the post to take on a `less intensive role as an advisor. Since his exit, the company has seen a major revamp of its business strategy with the formation of a unified Global Transformation Practice.

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The 14th largest employer in India is Firstsource Solutions Ltd, the fourth-largest pure-play BPO exporter from India. The company has a a well-diversified business mix across geographies and industry verticals, hybrid onsite-offshore model, focus on output-based pricing models, marquee clients, M&A expertise, and a decent execution track record.

Firstsource posted net profit of Rs 38 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2009, from a net loss of Rs 50 crore in the same quarter last financial year. The BPO company’s revenue grew 18.8 per cent at Rs 484.5 crore from Rs 472.3 crore in the same quarter last year. Sequentially the company's net profit was down 6.9 per cent from Rs 40.8 crore -- but revenue grew 2.6 per cent from Rs 472.3 crore.

Recently, Firstsource Solutions and private telecom operator Idea Cellular signed a five-year, Rs 145-crore outsourcing agreement.