The company is also saddled with debt and lacks the management leadership its needs to guide it back to guide it through troubled times. The merger deal with Alcatel fell apart after disagreements over the structure of the combined company's board and management control, sources familiar with the situation said. But neither is the company likely to find a company, such as Alcatel, which is willing to take the company lock, stock and barrel. If Lucent gets sold, it will be in piecemeal - not one fell swoop. All of this may leave Lucent chief executive Henry Schacht scratching his head, seemingly having tried everything to right the ailing company under his command.
Analysts agree that there are few other suitors willing to take the company as-is.