NIIT expands presence in Europe

NIIT, a leading global IT solutions provider, has taken over AD Solutions AG (ADS), a German IT services specialist, in line with its European expansion.

ADS, founded in 2000 through the management buy-out of a division of CGI Informatik GmbH, an IBM subsidiary, specializes in developing custom solutions and providing development outsourcing services.

"This acquisition is a key element of our strategy to address the hitherto under-penetrated European market," said Mr. Arvind Thakur, director and president of NIIT Technologies. "It will enable NIIT Technologies to effectively address the over $27 billion IT services market in Germany, Switzerland and Austria."

The acquisition adds to NIIT a successful executive team and an experience consulting team of 75 professionals. ADS will be a wholly owned subsidiary of NIIT with Rolf Stephan and Thomas Koller as its executive directors.

"We are very glad to have Rolf and Thomas on our team," said Vijay Thadani, CEO of NIIT. "Their years of experience with IBM, and subsequently building ADS will be of great advantage to NIIT in executing its Vision in Europe," Thadani said.

"I am tremendously excited about the opportunity to combine our strong customer access with NIIT’s global resources, reach and scalability," said Stephan, founder and CEOs of ADS.

NIIT Technologies, the software business of NIIT, is steadily building its global footprint and scale. Recently, NIIT re-branded its global software business as ‘NIIT Technologies’ and it has identified finance, insurance, transportation and retail as key verticals and acquisition as an important strategic element of growth.

In January this year, NIIT acquired the Custom Development Business of Click2Learn. This was followed by the acquisition of Osprey, a SAP solutions provider and DEI, an insurance industry specialist. NIIT’s European operations span the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. The acquisition of ADS enables NIIT to provide a strong near shore capability to its European customers.

NIIT Technologies has alliances with global IT majors including IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, SAP and Sun. NIIT Technologies services global customers including British Airways, ING Group, Office Depot, Singapore Airlines, SEI Investments and Toshiba.