Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz to get $19 mn this year

The newly-appointed Yahoo! chief executive Carol Bartz will receive a compensation of $19 million this year.

The 60-year-old technology veteran has replaced the Internet major's founder and chief executive Jerry Yang. Bartz would get a base salary of $1 million and a grant of $10 million in cash and stock to compensate the benefits forfeited from the previous employer. Further, she would be paid an annual grant worth about $8 million.

Bartz was appointed as the chief executive by Yahoo! board on January 13.

In a regulatory filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, Yahoo! said that Bartz would receive stock options for 5 million shares and the price would be decided on January 30.

To compensate Bartz for the forfeiture of the value of equity grants and post-employment medical coverage from her previous employer Autodesk, she would be provided an 'equity grant with a grant-date value of $10 million, payable 25 per cent in cash and 75 per cent in restricted stock,' the filing noted.

Yahoo! would also provide post employment medical coverage under its plans to Bartz, her spouse and eligible dependants as necessary, with Bartz paying the full premiums, it added.

She would be receive an 'annual grant for 2009 with a value of approximately $8 million which is expected to be granted in February 2009.'

Also, Bartz's salary would be subject to annual review for increases and would be eligible to receive an annual bonus, it said.

'The actual amount of the annual bonus will be determined by the compensation committee of the board based upon both the company's and Bartz's performance for the relevant year,' the filing added.

On January 13, 2009, Yahoo! entered into an employment agreement with Bartz to serve as chief executive for an initial term of four years and may be extended by mutual agreement thereafter.

Bartz served most recently as executive chairman of the board of directors of Autodesk and she was chairman, president and chief executive officer of the company for 14 years.

She currently serves on the board of directors of Cisco Systems, Intel Corporation and NetApp, Inc.

On Thursday, shares of Yahoo! shed 6.45 per cent to close at $11.61 on the Nasdaq.

NYSE halts trading in Satyam Computer

New York/New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) New York Stock Exchange today halted trading in Satyam Computer at its bourses in the US as well as Amsterdam in Europe, after founder and Chairman Ramalinga Raju disclosed financial bungling at the Indian IT major. "Yes, the stock is halted in New York and Amsterdam," a spokesperson for NYSE Euronext told PTI in an emailed reply on queries whether trading were being halted in Satyam shares.

In pre-market trade in the US, Satyam stock plunged by over 90 per cent to 0.85 dollars after Raju disclosed what has emerged as the biggest ever corporate fraud in India. Shares of Satyam on Indian bourses plunged by close to 98 per cent today, wiping off about Rs 10,000 crore (more than two billion dollars) from its market valuation.

Incidentally, two of Satyam's Indian rivals Infosys and Wipro that are also listed in the US, were trading with significant gains at the American bourses. NYSE-listed Wipro was trading with a gain of about 1.7 per cent, while Nasdaq-listed Infosys was up about 1.8 per cent.

However, most of the other US-listed Indian companies, such as ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Sterlite, Patni Computer, Rediff, Genpact, WNS, EXL Service, MTNL, Tata Motors and Dr Reddy's, were trading in the red at the US bourses. ICICI Bank was down over 13 per cent, while HDFC Bank plunged by over 10 per cent.

Besides, Sterlite was down over 9 per cent, Genpact and Dr Reddy's were down over 7 per cent, MTNL by over 6 per cent, Tata Motors by close to 5 per cent and WNS by over two per cent. PTI.

Rs 8,000 cr fraud hits Satyam; Raju may get 7-yr jail

In the country's biggest corporate fraud involving about Rs 8,000 crore, iconic IT company Satyam was hurtling towards disaster following the shocking disclosure of accounts fudging by its founder Ramalinga Raju, who then quit as chairman - leaving an uncertain future for the company and its 53,000 employees.

By the end of the day, the fourth largest IT company lost a staggering Rs 10,000 crore in market capitalisation as investors reacted sharply and dumped shares, pushing down the scrip by 78 per cent to Rs 39.95 at BSE. The NYSE-listed firm could also face regulator action in the US.

The government, regulator SEBI and the industry reacted with shock and anguish over the turn of events that could tarnish India's corporate and raise vital issue like ethics, corporate governance and accounting and business practices.

Acting in tandem, Corporate Affairs Ministry and SEBI announced that the episode would be probed and action taken against the perpetrators of the fraud that entails inflating profits and creating fictitious assets.

"I am now prepared to subject myself to the laws of the land and face consequences thereof," Raju said in a letter to SEBI and the Board of Directors, while giving details of how the profits were inflated over the years and his failed attempts to "fill the fictitious assets with real ones."

The Maytas firms, although promoted by his family, proved to be his nemesis, with Raju saying: "The aborted Maytas acquisition deal was the last attempt to fill the fictitious assets with real ones... But that was not to be. What followed in the last seven days is common knowledge."

While the government said the entire issue would be referred to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, SEBI described it as an event of "horrifying magnitude." "It was like riding a tiger not knowing how to get off without being eaten," said Raju.

Removal from Sensex, Nifty

Satyam Computers may be removed from the Sensex and Nifty following the revelation of manipulation in the company's accounts, analysts said. Rajiv Mehta, senior analyst with India Infoline, a large brokerage house said his firm has immediately stopped covering Satyam and many other brokerage houses are also expected to do the same. There will not be any investor interest in the company anyway. The company may be removed from sensex and nifty, he said.

With the fall in its stock prices, Satyam has lost its weightage in the sensex considerably over the recent past and currently has weightage of only 1.56 as of Tuesday. While in nifty, the weightage is only 0.63 per cent.

B Ramalinga Raju can get a 7-year jail term

Satyam Computer Chairman B Ramalinga Raju can face seven years' imprisonment in addition to monetary penalties for forging accounts, breach of trust and misappropriating funds.

"He (Raju) can be charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for falsification of accounts, cheating and breach of trust. These offences attract a maximum penalty of seven years," said a senior partner of law firm Titus and Company, Diljeet Titus.

Expressing a similar opinion, senior Supreme Court advocate C A Sundaram said, "If the admissions (made by Raju in his resignation letter) are true, it is a very serious matter. It would be violation of (the) SEBI (code), Company Law and the IPC".

Another senior advocate and corporate law practitioner U K Chaudhary said the Satyam chief could be imprisoned for seven years under various provisions of company law. "Under section 628 of the Companies Act, which deals with misrepresentation of accounts, he could be punished for a maximum of 2 years along with penalty. However, the punishment term could be extended to seven years for producing false affidavits and other documents," he said.

In addition to Raju, Titus said "action should also be taken against Chief Financial Officers, Finance Managers, and Legal and Tax Advisors for their complicity in this episode".

Suggesting that the CBI should get into the case, he said if appropriate action is not taken, the Satyam fiasco would "make a mockery of the Indian enforcement mechanism".

NSE to remove Satyam shares from Nifty from January 12

MUMBAI: National Stock Exchange said on Wednesday it will remove Satyam Computer Services Ltd from its S&P CNX Nifty 50-share index from Jan 12.

The head of the outsourcing firm resigned on Wednesday, disclosing profits had been falsely inflated for years, sending its shares crashing nearly 80 percent.

The exchange did not give any reason for the change. Anil Ambani-group firm Reliance Capital Ltd will replace Satyam in the main index, the exchange said in a statement. Satyam will also be excluded from the CNX 100 index, CNX 500 index and the CNX IT index.

Satyam is a component of the Bombay Stock Exchange's main 30-share index <.BSESN>, the country's benchmark index. The BSE has not made any statement on Satyam as yet.

Satyam: Full text of Ramalinga Raju letter to the Board

Satyam Computers Services Ltd.

From B. Ramalinga Raju
Chairman, Satyam Computer Servcies Ltd

Dear Board Members,

It is with deep regret, and tremendous burden that I am carrying on my conscience, that I would like to bring the following facts to your notice:

1. The balance sheet carries as of September 30, 2008

a) Inflated (non-existent) cash and bank balance of Rs 5,040 crore (as against Rs 5361 crore refglected in the books)

b) An accured interest of Rs 376 crore which is non-existent

c) An understated liability of Rs 1,230 crore on account of funds arranged by me

d) An over stated debtor position of Rs 490 crore (as against Rs 2651 reflected in the books)

2. For the September quarter (Q2) we reported a revenue of Rs 2,700 crore and an operating margin of Rs 649 crore (24 per cent of revenues) as against the actual revenues of Rs 2,112 crore and an actual operating margin of Rs 61 crore (3 per cent of revenue). This has resulted in artificial cash and bank balances going up by Rs 588 crore in Q2 alone.


The gap in the balance sheet has arisen purely on account of inflated profits over a period of last several years (limited only to Satyam standalone, books of subsidiaries reflecting true performance). What started as a marginal gap between actual operating profit and the one reflected in the books of accounts continued to grow over the years. It has attained unmanageable proportions as the size of the company operations grew significantly (annualized revenue run rate of Rs 11,276 crore in the September quarter, 2008 and official reserves of Rs 8.392 crore). The differential in the real profits and the one reflected in the books was further accentuated by the fact that the company had to carry additional resources and assets to justify higher level of operations – thereby significantly increasing the costs.

Every attempt made to eliminate the gap failed. As the promoters held a small percentage of equity, the concern was the poor performance would result in a takeover, thereby exposing the gap. It was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten.

The aborted Maytas acquisition deal was the last attempt to fill the fictitious assets with real ones. Maytas’ investors were convinced that this is a good divestment opportunity and a strategic fit. Once Satyam’s problem was solved, it was hoped that Maytas payments can be delayed. But that was not to be. What followed in the last several days is common knowledge.


I would like the board to know:

1. That neither myself, not the Managing Director(including our spouses) sold any shares in the last eight years-excepting for a small proportion declared and sold for philanthropic purposes.

2. That in the last two years a net amount of Rs 1,230 crore was arranged to Satyam (not reflected in the books of Satyam) to keep the operations going by resorting to pledging all the promoter shares and raising funds from know sources by giving all kinds of assurances (Statement enclosed, only to the members of the board). Significant dividend payments, acquisitions, capital expenditure to provide for growth did not help matters. Every attempt was made to keep the wheel moving and to ensure prompt payment of salaries to the associates. The last straw was the selling of most of the pledged share by the lenders on account of margin triggers.

3. That neither me, nor the Managing Director took even one rupee/dollar from the company and have not benefitted in financial terms on account of the inflated results.

4. None of the board members, past or present, had any knowledge of the situation in which the company is placed. Even business leaders and senior executives in the company, such as Ram Mynampati, Subu D T R Anand, Kesab Panda, Virender Agarwal, A S Murthy, Hari T, S V Krishnan, Vijay Prasad, Manish Mehta, Murali V, Sriram Papani, Kiran Kavale, Joe Lagioia. Ravindra Penu Metsa, Jayaraman and Prabhakar Gupta are unaware of the real situation as against the books of accounts. None of my or managing directors immediate or extended family members has any ideas about these issues.

Having put the facts before you, I leave it to the wisdom of the board to take the matters forward. However, I am also taking the liberty to recommend the following steps:

1) A task force has been formed in the last few days to address the situation arising out of the failed Maytas acquisition attempt. This consists of some of the most accomplished leaders of Satyam: Subu D, T R Anand, Keshab Panda and Virender Aggarwal, representing business functions, and A.S.Murthy, Hari T and Murali V representing support functions. I suggest that Ram Mynampati be made the Chairman of this task force to immediately address some of the operational matters on hand. Ram can also act as an interim CEO reporting to the board.

2) Merrill Lynch can be entrusted with the task of quickly exploring some merger opportunities.

3) You may have a ‘restatement of accounts’ prepared by auditors in light of the facts that I have placed before you.

I have promoted and have been associated with Satyam for well over twenty years now. I have seen it grow from few people to 53,000 people, with 185 Fortune 500 companies as customers and operations in 66 countries. Satyam has an excellent leadership and competency base at all levels. I sincerely apologize to all Satyamites and stakeholders who have made Satyam a special organization, for the current situation. I am confident they will stand by the company in this hour of crisis.
in light of the above, I fervently appeal to the board to hold together to take some important steps. Mt T R Prasad is well placed to mobalize support from the government at this crucial time. With the hope that members of the Task Force and the financila advisor, Merrill Lynch (now Bank of America) will stand by the company at this crucial hour, I am marking copies of this statement to them as well.

Under the circumustances, I am tendering my resignation as the chairman of Satyam and shall continue in this position only till such time the current board is expanded. My contribution is just to ensure enhancement of the board over the next several days or as early as possible.

I am now prepared to subject myself to the laws of the land and fact the consequences thereof.

(B. Ramalinga Raju)

Copied marked to:
1) SEBI Chairman
2) Stock Exchanges

Anil Ambani: The biggest loser of 2008

Touted on the cover of Forbes 2008 billionaires issue for having added $24 billion to his fortune in one year, Ambani has dropped $30 billion since then. But don't worry too much. His Reliance Entertainment is investing $500 million in a new studio venture with Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks. Plus, he remains quite wealthy, worth $12 billion. That's something many others can't claim.

The biggest billionaire gainer last March is now the year's biggest loser. Ambani lost $30 billion in the past nine months, more than anyone in the world. Stock of his telecom company dropped after his estranged brother helped scuttle a deal with African telecom MTN. It's quite an achievement in a year in which three of his fellow countrymen--estranged brother Mukesh, steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and Indian KP Singh, all of whom ranked earlier among the world's 10 richest--lost more than $20 billion apiece.

Anil Ambani
March net worth: $42 billion
Current net worth: $12 billion