End-game nears for Satyam, but buyers wary

By Sumeet Chatterjee

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Fraud-hit Satyam Computer Services' search for a white knight could end on Monday, but bidders face an uphill task to put a price tag on the Indian company due to uncertainty about its finances and liabilities.

The government-appointed board meets on Monday to receive bids from suitors. On the same day, it could announce a buyer of a 51 percent stake in the outsourcing company that had to scramble to raise funding to meet short-term needs this year.

Three months ago, Satyam's founder and chairman shocked investors by saying profits had been overstated for years, and putting in doubt the survival of the company once ranked as India's fourth largest outsourcing firm.

The government quickly stepped in and sacked the board as it sought to limit damage from India's biggest corporate scandal.

Satyam's board met in Mumbai on Thursday, in a move analysts said could be to finalise the procedures for Monday. Chairman Kiran Karnik told Reuters the due diligence by suitors of Satyam was still going on.

Indian engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro, which has a small software services unit, mid-sized outsourcer Tech Mahindra and U.S. private equity firm WL Ross & Co are among the suitors.

Larsen & Toubro, which has built up a stake of about 12 percent in Satyam, is seen by many analysts as a front-runner.

"For now, our advice could be skewed to a price lower than the current market price, but at the end of the day we want to win. So there can be some room left to go higher," said an investment banker, who did not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media.