In a move Mahindra Group Vice-Chairman Anand Mahindra termed a “game changer”, Tech Mahindra emerged the highest bidder for Satyam.
If it goes through, the deal will give Tech Mahindra a seat at the high table of the Indian IT services business. It will also mark the end of the uncertainty surrounding Satyam, though the firm’s legal and financial troubles are far from over.
Tech Mahindra, which provides telecom software services, made the bid through subsidiary Venturbay Consultants Pvt. Ltd and will likely spend a total of Rs2,889 crore to acquire a 51% stake in the fraud-hit Satyam. Analysts say that the company may have to immediately invest Rs1,000 crore in Satyam for operating expenses. The deal needs to be approved by the Company Law Board (CLB), the government arm that oversees the functioning of companies.
A Mahindra Group executive said money wouldn’t be a problem. “Tech Mahindra has Rs700 crore of cash available and then we have hard under-writing for the remaining amount. So, we can arrange it,” said Bharat Doshi, the group’s chief financial officer.
