The owners of The Times of India group, Samir Jain and Vineet Jain, are having a serious difference of opinion on how to run the media conglomerate and are reportedly planning to buy each other out.

The group will be divided into print media, which includes The Times of India and financial daily The Economic Times in one bucket, and all digital properties in the other. Both will bid to buy each other out. Sunil Mittal and the Dalmia family are the mediators in the dispute, say insiders

Both brothers are talking to lenders on buying the other out after accounting for other assets received. As of now, the matter is in a stalemate.

The Times group has a significant presence in the print, digital and TV segments but it’s only the print media which is the cash cow. The group also holds stakes in companies operating in sectors ranging from real estate to e-commerce.

The funding lines being discussed will be backed by the group’s assets and its cash flows. After the division, the brothers may consider bringing in financial investors into their units.

Interesting, this development comes in the backdrop of the enforcement directorate investigating the group for alleged fund diversion.