AYALA CORP. WANTS TO INVEST more in the country?s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry to ride on the sector?s booming prospects over the next few years.

Alfred Ayala, president of the group?s BPO holding arm Live It Solutions Inc., said they were in preliminary talks with several firms after successfully spending $200 million to acquire outsourcing companies over the last three years.

?There?s nothing formal yet,? he said.

?We don?t have a specific [budget for acquisitions] anymore, but we?re definitely looking. It?s more opportunistic at this point,? Ayala said.

The conglomerate?s current investments in the BPO space included controlling interests in US-based knowledge process outsourcing firm Integreon Management Solutions Inc., call center eTelecare Global Solutions Inc. and local animation studio Affinity Express Inc. The company also owns HR Mall, a human resource outsourcing firm whose main clients are Ayala-owned companies.

Ayala said the recent passing of the universal healthcare reform law in the United States provided opportunities for BPO industry players.

?Healthcare is an area we?re interested in. It?s a large part of the US economy and there?s new legislation that will spur for the need of electronic records,? he said.

He said Live It would choose a company to buy partly based on its capability to improve the Ayala group?s BPO business in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Ayala said the group was now in the process of expanding the local operations of one of Live It?s units, Integreon, using fresh funds coming from a London-based investor which bought into the company earlier this year.

Last February, Actis Capital invested $50 million for a minority stake in Integreon, the world?s leading provider of KPO, or high-valued BPO services.