Cognizant Tech to ring Nasdaq opening bell

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation will ring the Nasdaq opening bell remotely from the company's Chennai facility on March 5 at 9:30 am.

Cognizant said it would co-host two celebrations with Nasdaq "" one in Chennai at Cognizant's techno-complex and one in New York City at Nasdaq's MarketSite in Times Square.

The company is listed on the Nasdaq since June 1998.

"Cognizant is honoured to open the Nasdaq market from India, commemorating our rapid growth as a global services firm since our initial public offering nearly nine years ago and India's emergence as a global leader in the IT and BPO services industries," said Francisco D'Souza, president and CEO of Cognizant, adding, "We are pleased to be ranked among the world's leading companies in the Nasdaq 100 Index."

"Nasdaq is delighted to be opening the market with Cognizant, the first offshore IT services company to list on our market," said Charlotte Crosswell, head of Nasdaq International. He said Nasdaq was delighted to be back in India to remotely open the market.

Cognizant surpassed $1.4 billion in annual revenues in 2006. In 2004, Cognizant was named to the Nasdaq 100 Index, and in November 2006, was selected to join the S&P 500 Index "" the first global offshore IT services firm to achieve this distinction, according to a press release.