Is IBM also in the race to buy Satyam?

Global IT giant IBM is learned to be leading the list of prospective buyers of beleaguered Satyam Computer Services. If the plan fructifies, IBM would become the largest IT services player in India with a combined employee strength of over 125,000 people.

According to sources close to the development, IBM officials has begun discussions with Satyam board and expressed its desire to acquire a majority stake in the company. Moreover, a team of investment bankers and lawyers from the U.S. and Europe has been brought in to assess the size of the deal and the risks associated with it. It is also believed that IBM has conducted an initial due diligence on some of Satyam's major customers.

Making easy entry for foreign players, Minister of Corporate Affairs P C Gupta had said a week ago that open bids would not be restricted to Indian players. IBM was named one of the hostile bidders for Satyam at the company's meeting in the last December. Apart from IBM, other prominent companies in the race are Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which owns 12 per cent in Satyam, and B K Modi-owned Spice group.

The government-nominated board is expected to invite bids for a 31 per cent stake in the company, but is likely to assure the successful bidder 51 per cent even if it fails to get the additional mandatory 20 per cent from the open offer.

Analysts foresee that if IBM can buy Satyam, that can give IBM the leverage to compete with Indian IT service providers as Satyam has a low-cost structure.

Agencies

iGATE Pulls Out of Race to Acquire Satyam

With Satyam's financial statement still not available and government yet to cap its liabilities, iGATE has all but given up its interest in Satyam.

With Satyam's financial statement still not available and government yet to cap its liabilities, iGATE has all but given up its interest in buying stake in Satyam. The new Satyam board has recently appointed a new CEO and CFO.

The company had earlier said it was waiting for the new financial statement before deciding its next step, as the Satyam board had ruled out any part buy option.

Talking to CXOtoday, Phaneesh Murthy. CEO of iGATE, said, "Our interest in Satyam is weaning now. If a portion of the company is not being sold, then it does not attract me."

Over the last few weeks, reports indicate that Satyam has lost several of its top employees and many clients are also moving away, thereby making the value proposition no longer interesting for iGATE. "I believe that delay in decisions will erode the value of the company because of migration of customers and employees," said Murthy.

It is believed that iGATE was keenly looking at acquiring the manufacturing and EPR verticals of Satyam that were dominant over the years. But with the board not likely to issue Satyam's financial restatement in the near future, many of the other suitors are likely to pull out as well.

iGATE was among the early prospects, along with Larson & Turbo (L&T) and Essar, to express interest in acquiring the fourth largest software service provider. Since then the board has received three Expressions of Interest (EoI) from Mahindra Group, Hindujas and Spice Communications.

CXOtoday.com