Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Singapore’s Sembcorp Industries (SES:U96) and several private equity firms are reportedly among those interested in buying a controlling stake in Indian conglomerate Tata Group’s data centre business.
The private equity firms in the running for an approximate 74% stake in the data centre business, part of mobile operator Tata Communications, include The Blackstone Group (NYSE:BX), The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG), KKR, Bain Capital (NYSE:KKR) and Advent International, The Economic Times reported. The sale could reportedly raise up to Rs45.89bn (US$696.78m).
Tata Communications confirmed in July that it had hired Jefferies to advise on its strategic options for its data centre businesses in India and Singapore. The Mumbai-based company said it could give no assurance that a sale will take place.
Tata Communications has declined to comment on the report, as have Google, Bain, Advent, KKR, Carlyle and Blackstone. Amazon and Sembcorp were not immediately available for comment.
If completed, the sale would help the telco to reduce a debt pile which stood at US$1.41bn as of 30 June.