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Capgemini to Acquire WNS for $3.3 Billion to Boost AI-Driven Outsourcing Services

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France’s IT services giant Capgemini has agreed to purchase technology outsourcing firm WNS for $3.3 billion in cash, aiming to expand its portfolio of artificial intelligence (AI) tools for business process improvement, the company announced on Monday.

The acquisition will enable Capgemini to develop consulting services focused on enhancing company operations and cost efficiency through AI technologies, including generative AI and agentic AI, which it anticipates will attract substantial investment.

The deal values WNS shares at $76.50 each, a 17% premium over their closing price on July 3, excluding WNS’s financial debt. Capgemini’s interest in the India-based WNS, known for business process outsourcing (BPO) and data analytics, was initially reported by Reuters in April.

Capgemini CEO Aiman Ezzat highlighted that WNS’s “high growth, margin accretive and resilient Digital Business Process Services” would also strengthen Capgemini’s footprint in the U.S. market. WNS’s client roster includes major firms such as Coca-Cola, T-Mobile, and United Airlines.

In a media call, Ezzat noted that the acquisition would immediately open cross-selling opportunities in the U.S. and the U.K. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2025 and to be accretive to Capgemini’s revenue and operating margin from day one.

Despite the strategic rationale, Capgemini’s shares dropped about 5% after the announcement, making it one of the biggest decliners on Europe’s STOXX 600 index. Morgan Stanley analysts expressed concerns that the deal might restrict Capgemini’s financial flexibility and have limited immediate financial impact.

Analysts also cautioned that generative AI could disrupt the traditionally labor-intensive BPO market, potentially affecting Capgemini’s revenue and introducing new competitors. They noted the market might need more proof that WNS is the optimal vehicle for leveraging AI to transform BPO services.

Salesforce to Invest $500 Million in AI Ventures in Saudi Arabia

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Salesforce announced on Monday that it plans to invest $500 million in artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives in Saudi Arabia, underscoring the country’s competitive push to attract critical tech investments. The investment will be a key part of Salesforce’s efforts to introduce its Hyperforce platform architecture in the region, leveraging a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

The announcement comes amid a global surge in AI investments, as countries ramp up efforts to become leaders in the fast-growing technology. This trend follows a shift in regulatory approaches, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump overturned an executive order that sought to impose restrictions on AI advancements.

In addition to launching Hyperforce, Salesforce will collaborate with major global firms such as Capgemini, Deloitte, Globant, IBM, and PwC to expand the use of its AI product, Agentforce, which is designed for customer service agents. Another key aspect of the plan includes offering Arabic language support for Salesforce’s AI product suite, aiming to make the technology more accessible to local businesses.

Salesforce made this announcement at Saudi Arabia’s global tech event, LEAP 2025, where the country secured $14.9 billion in AI investments. Earlier in the month, Salesforce also revealed plans to establish a regional headquarters in Riyadh and to upskill 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030, further cementing its commitment to fostering AI growth in the region.

Capgemini CEO Criticizes EU’s AI Regulations as Too Restrictive

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Aiman Ezzat, CEO of Capgemini, expressed concerns that the European Union has overreached with its artificial intelligence regulations, making it more challenging for global companies to deploy AI in the region. In an interview, Ezzat highlighted the difficulties businesses face as they navigate different AI laws across multiple countries. His remarks come ahead of the AI Action Summit in Paris and amidst growing frustration from the private sector regarding AI regulations.

The EU’s AI Act, which is touted as the world’s most comprehensive AI law, has been criticized by some companies for stifling innovation. Ezzat commented, “In Europe, we went too far and too fast on AI regulation,” emphasizing that the absence of global AI standards has made the regulatory landscape increasingly complex.

Capgemini, one of Europe’s largest IT services firms, partners with major companies like Microsoft, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), and serves clients such as Heathrow Airport and Deutsche Telekom. At the upcoming summit in Paris, AI policy frameworks are expected to be discussed, and Ezzat anticipates efforts to align global policy on AI.

While the AI Act won’t be fully implemented for several years, concerns have already arisen regarding privacy law violations by AI actors. Several European data protection authorities are reviewing DeepSeek, a Chinese startup that has drawn attention for its ability to compete with U.S. companies at a fraction of the cost. Despite DeepSeek’s open-source model, Ezzat noted its transparency limitations, such as the lack of access to the datasets used to train the models.

Capgemini is in the early stages of exploring the integration of DeepSeek’s models with clients, according to Ezzat.