Satyam still among top 5 software firms: MCA

Satyam Computer Services Ltd [Get Quote] continues to retain its position among India's top five software service providers, according to a senior ministry of corporate affairs official.

The employee strength of the Hyderabad-based information technology firm was around 50,000, even three months after its founder, B Ramalinga Raju, confessed to manipulating the books of accounts, said the official on condition of anonymity.

"Satyam continues to have strong revenues. The difference between its turnover and the next highest is around 10-15 per cent," he said. He did not disclose his idea of the revenue and net profit, saying it would interfere with the ongoing process for selling a strategic stake in Satyam.

Based on the data available, HCL Technologies [Get Quote], which was the fifth largest IT firm before the scam-hit Satyam, recorded a revenue of Rs 4,860 crore (Rs 48.60 billion) in July-December 2008 (see table). So, 10-15 per cent less than HCL means Satyam's turnover is Rs 4,100-4,400 crore (Rs 41-44 billion). At this turnover, Satyam's top line has dipped by only 1-7 per cent compared with the year-ago period (July-December 2007).

Tech Mahindra [Get Quote], which is in the race to pick up a stake in Satyam, is a distant sixth, with a turnover of only Rs 2,297 crore (Rs 22.97 billion) in the six months ended December 2008.

After the government-nominated directors took control of Satyam's board, two audit firms -- KPMG and Deloitte -- were asked to restate the accounts of the company. While the two audit firms are expected to take six months for the job, the companies that have evinced interest in picking up a stake in Satyam are being given restated accounts for six months ended December 2008.

However, the restated accounts are not available for January-March 2009, the critical period after Raju's confession and the government taking control of the company. The official said Satyam had performed well in January and February by operating without taking bank loans, adding that the client churn rate was not abnormal

On employee numbers, the official said it had come down only to 50,000, from 53,000 when the crisis hit Satyam.

The financial bids for acquiring a strategic stake in Satyam will be opened on April 13. Larsen & Toubro, India's largest private engineering firm, and Tech Mahindra, are reported to be in the fray. If the difference between the top two bids is more than 10 per cent, the name of the winner will be announced the same day. If it is lower than 10 per cent, an open auction will be conducted.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT (Rs in Crore)
	Sep-07	Dec-07	Sep-08	Dec-08	Sept- Dec 2007	Sept- Dec 2008
Infosys [Get Quote]	4106	4271	5418	5786	8377	11204
TCS [Get Quote]	5761.82	6041.3	6784.45	7105.04	11803.12	13889.49
Wipro [Get Quote]*	4867	5302.5	6507	6618.3	10169.5	13125.3
HCL Tech**	1709.2	181660%	2369.3	2490.8	3525.8	4860.1
Satyam***	2142.26	2266.05	2898.87	#	4408.31	�
Tech Mahindra	897.5	970.4	1164.8	1132.2	1867.9	2297
* includes non-IT revenue ** as per US GAAP *** the original numbers, not restated # results not yet announced Source: Investors section of respective companies

Maytas Infra, the company promoted by the kin of the disgraced founder of Satyam, said Thursday it had appointed K Ramalingam and Anil K Agarwal as directors on the board of the company. In a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange, Maytas said Ramalingam would also be the chairman on its board.

Ramalingam, a former chairman of the Airport Authority of India, is an engineering graduate from IIT-Chennai and has served on the boards of Indian Airlines and Air India. Agarwal, was president of Cosmos Group and headed the industry chamber, Assocham, in 2006.