Anil Ambani group company Reliance Communications [Get Quote] is understood to be in touch with leading global equity firms who are trying to acquire India's third largest mobile operator Hutchison-Essar.

The Hong Kong-published Asian edition of the Financial Times said three American firms -- Carlyle, Blackstone and Texas Pacific Group -- were in talks with RCL to buy 67 per cent stake held by Hutchison in the joint venture Hutch-Essar.

A Reliance Communication spokesperson said, "We don't comment on speculative reports".

According to reports, the deal, if successful, could fetch Hutchison as much as $14 billion and would be Asia's largest private equity deal.

However, industry sources pointed out that the deal could face hurdles with Essar expected to fight strongly against any such move and it was possible for the corporate house to take legal recourse.

They said the latest action could be a result of Providence, Citigroup and other investors succeeding in buying out some equity in Aditya Birla Group's Idea Cellular [Get Quote] ahead of its proposed initial public offer.

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