Infosys interested in smaller acquisitions: Balakrishnan

Infosys Technologies, the country's second-largest computer services provider, was interested in buying smaller companies that would be easier to absorb, said CFO V Balakrishnan.

Infosys was not in talks to buy UK's Sage Group or Atos Origin, France's second-largest computer services provider, said Balakrishnan in a telephone interview today, refuting a newspaper report.

Sage is Britain's biggest maker of accounting software. Infosys may offer ¤4.6 billion ($6.43 billion) for Sage, rivaling bids from Microsoft Corp, Intuit Inc and Goldman Sachs Group, the Indian newspaper reported today. Infosys may also be trying to acquire Atos, the report said, citing speculation and unnamed people.

"We are looking for smaller acquisitions that are easier to integrate," said Balakrishnan from the southern Indian city of Bangalore. "If there is a company with a good product around which we can build services, we will look at it."

Balakrishnan, who declined to elaborate on any potential acquisition targets, also denied that Bangalore-based Infosys was in talks to buy any part of Cap Gemini, Europe's largest computer services company.

Infosys shares rose Rs 53.05, or 3 per cent, to Rs 1,853 at 10:12 am local time on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

They have declined 17 per cent this year, compared with a 16 per cent gain in India's benchmark Sensex.