l When do you
see Aptech being listed?
We have received the court order and BSE has already listed us but NSE is
yet to do it. We have been trading as Aptech and Hexaware, two different
organizations, since April 2002. But now we will be listed as Aptech Training
Ltd because Aptech stopped trading some time back. This is merely an internal
restructuring process.
l How much
equity will you be floating in the market?
The total worth is about Rs 30 crore of which Rs 18 crore is the training
business and Rs 12 crore is the software arm of Aptech. So 18 crore will be
publicly traded.
l What is
Aptech’s marketshare?
Our marketshare has increased from 30% to 45% in the last year. We share the
top three slots with NIIT and SSI. The situation is such that we compete on
quality now.
Pramod |
l NIIT is
facing a problem with its franchisees. Do you foresee similar issues arising in
your organization as well?
I have great respect for NIIT. Like all businesses, the training industry too
has channels through which we operate and there are bound to be small problems
once in a while. But that doesn’t warrant a breakdown in the functioning
method and as such I’m sure NIIT will come up with a solution soon enough and
their students will not suffer.
l Any new
courses you would like to highlight?
As part of an MoU with Southern Cross University (SCU) of Australia,
students of Aptech can obtain SCU’s Bachelor’s in Applied Computing degree
from select Aptech centers in India itself. The student will have an added
advantage of completing the course in three years as compared to other four-year
degree programs.
l Why haven’t
you considered alliances with home-grown Indian institutions?
One of the major reasons we haven’t ventured into that domain is because
Indian institutions have outdated curricula and the attempt to change anything
usually involves a lengthy battle. These ensure perpetual delay and stagnation
in course content. Also once we enter into an agreement with them they will
enforce their syllabus on ours
Dhanya Krishnakumar in New Delhi