IT major, Hexaware Technologies, plans to hire 400-500 fresh engineers in the current calendar year, a top company official said.

"We are planning to add around 400-500 engineers in 2010," Hexaware's executive chairman, Atul Nishar said on the sidelines of the Nasscom India Leadership Forum. Besides, this the IT firm is also mulling a wage hike.

"We plan to hike wages. The industry's average hike is between 8-12 per cent and we will be in the same range," he said.

The environment is now looking better for acquisitions, Nishar said, adding that the company is looking to buy-out companies with a revenue in the range of $25-100 million, both in the US and Europe.