NEW DELHI (TIP): Tech Mahindra, on Thursday, said it had signed an agreement BASF to acquire the IT and consultancy services business of the chemical giant in a bid to strengthen its presence in Western Europe. Financial details of the deal, made through its German subsidiary, were not disclosed. It is expected to close by June.

The Mumbai-headquartered firm, in a statement, said Tech Mahindra GmbH, Dusseldorf, has signed an agreement with BASF Business Services Holding GmbH “to acquire its business with third party customers. This includes the wholly-owned subsidiary BASF Business Services Consult GmbH, based in Hamburg.” BASF Business Services Holding will, in future, focus on providing information services, supply chain operations and business process management for BASF Group, it added.

“Legal closing of the transaction is expected to happen in the first quarter of 2014-15. All 60 employees of BASF Business Services Consult GmbH will be transitioned to Tech Mahindra as part of this transaction,” the company said. Tech Mahindra already has a presence in Germany across three centres, and employs more than 100 people. BASF Business Services Holding GmbH (earlier called BASF IT Services Holding GmbH) is an indirect wholly-owned group company of BASF SE. Its service portfolio includes consulting, development and operation of IT systems to the design and optimisation of business processes.

“It is a strategic move and a testimony of our commitment to the region. It will bring us closer to our customers and will help us to deliver holistic solutions. I’m confident the acquisition will spur rapid growth in this region,” Tech Mahindra Europe (Enterprise) Head Vikram Nair said. The acquisition would see creation of a strong ICT player in the region with strengths in application and infrastructure business services, he added. Earlier this week, Tech Mahindra acquired a Sweden-based Type Approval Lab for undisclosed amount to strengthen lab presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions.