Datacom's future is looking dark with internal disputes over its management still continuing, after two years of its establishment. Mahendra Nahata, who owns a 36% stake in Datacom Solutions, has denied a story that appeared in ET that he is selling his stake and exiting the company, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Economic Times story claimed Nahata would sell his stake in Datacom to the founders of Videocon Industries Ltd. for Rs 12 -13 billion ($234.8 million). Also Nahata's HFCL Infotel operations in Punjab would be merged with Datacom and its Rs 400 crore debt transferred on to the books of Datacom. Nahata's 36% stake sell would allow the Dhoots, who owns the remaining 64% stake, to bring in a strategic partner and much needed cash. Investor Interest Over the past year, many foreign investors have shown interest but perhaps the public standoff between the two promoters may have scared them away. Investors who have been reported to be in communication with Datacom include: -- Qatar Tele -- Dubai-based Etisalat -- Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) -- Kuwait's Zain -- Turkish telecom major Turkcell -- Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim's America Movil, and -- France Telecom This may be the undoing of the operator if investors lose confidence and top rung managers exit in frustration over its neglected growth. Meanwhile its start up contemporary Unitech has received Rs 30.5 billion in the first phase of funding from Telenor. Datacom has spectrum and is ready to roll out in 22 circles but does the operator have…
