June 10 (Reuters) - Information technology services

provider Cognizant Technologies has agreed to acquire

digital engineering firm Belcan for nearly $1.3 billion in cash

and stock, according to people familiar with the matter.

The deal would expand Teaneck, New Jersey-based Cognizant's

footprint in the aerospace, defense, space and automotive

sectors. Cincinnati-based Belcan, which has been owned by

private equity firm AE Industrial Partners since 2015, employs

60,000 people across 60 locations globally. Some of its clients

include Boeing ( BA ), General Motors ( GM ), Rolls-Royce

, the U.S. space agency NASA and the U.S. Navy.

As part of the deal, Belcan would continue to be led by its

CEO Lance Kwasniewski and operate as a unit of Cognizant, the

sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an

official announcement expected later on Monday.

Cognizant, which has a market value of $33 billion, is

looking to strengthen its offerings in specialized areas as it

braces for a slowdown in spending from clients. It has cut its

annual revenue forecast in the range of $18.9 billion to $19.7

billion, below prior expectations of $19.0 billion to $19.8

billion.