The employees numbering about 1,000 in its facilities across the country arebeing offered shares of Siemens Business Services as and when SBS goes for alisting on Nasdaq exchange. However, SISL officials declined to comment onthe timing of the Nasdaq listing of the joint venture partner. Companyofficials said this is one of the options to retain employees. If itmaterialises, the information arm of Siemens India would be the first firmin the country from the Siemens group to offer Esops. When contacted, SISLmanaging director Anil Laud confirmed the move. ``We are planning to offerEsop schemes shortly,'' he said.

However, he declined to divulge details about the proposed Esop structure.The company is currently working with the Reliance group to offer serviceson a pre-paid system. SISL is restructuring its software developmentservices division to provide an exclusive focus on automative software,transportation, large projects and enterprise management system. ``The ideais to create independent profit centres within the organisation,'' Laudsaid.

According to Laud, Siemens Information Systems is not planning to expand itscapacities in terms of new centres, but SISL would enhance the manpower in aphased manner with a focus on the export market. At present, export revenueof SISL comes from Germany (55 per cent), the UK (25 per cent) and US (17per cent).