New Delhi/Bangalore: Indian software-services provider Tech Mahindra Ltd reported a threefold rise in quarterly profit, beating market estimates, after its unit Mahindra Satyam swung to a better-than-expected profit.
Consolidated net profit at Tech Mahindra for the fiscal fourth quarter ended March rose to Rs 303 crore ($53.9 million) from Rs 92.19 crore a year ago.
Tech Mahindra, whose customers include BT Group Plc. and AT & T Inc., is in the process of buying the remaining stake in its Satyam unit.
“Our decision to acquire Satyam was a wise one and it is now giving us rich dividends,” chief executive Vineet Nayyar said.
Tech Mahindra, a unit of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, bought Satyam in a government-backed auction in 2009 after Satyam’s founder admitted to one of India’s biggest accounting frauds. The full merger is awaiting regulatory approvals.
The combined entity will become the fifth-largest Indian software services provider by revenue. Satyam earlier this month, reported a better-than-expected Rs 534 crore profit in the January-March period compared with a year-ago loss of Rs 327 crore.
“What would be interesting to watch will be the outcome of the merger and whether it gives the combined company the ability to win much larger contracts,” said P. Phani Sekhar, a fund manager at Angel Broking Ltd, who overseas funds that include Tech Mahindra and Satyam shares.
India’s $100 billion-a-year information technology and back-office services industry earns about 70% of its revenue from the US and Europe, and a fragile global economy has raised concerns that Western clients could curb spending on outsourcing services.
“I am seeing elements of slowdown but I am also optimistic enough to believe that we will record growth,” Nayyar said, adding the company expects to maintain margins at current levels over the next couple of quarters.
The company was competing for six-seven orders in the telecom sector, each of which could be worth $25-100 million, he said.
