SHANGHAI - Nestlé, large manufacturer of food in the world, is one of several companies in talks to acquire or form a partnership with the largest Chinese confectioner, Hsu Fu Chi International.
A spokesman for Hsu Fu Chi, said Monday that the company has been in talks with companies in the United States, in Europe and the Japan to form a partnership that would extend its activities in China, but no agreement has been reached.
"We deny we discuss with Nestlé, because there are already rumours." But we do not want to reveal the names of other companies, "said Christine Sun, spokesperson of Hsu Fu Chi." "For the moment, we have not any concrete agreement." "It is too early to discuss the form of cooperation".
Hsu Fu Chi shares, listed in Singapore, were suspended in trading Monday at the start.
Tong, a spokesman for Nestle, which is based in Switzerland, he refused to comment on Monday.
If Nestlé or another big company acquires Hsu Fu Chi, it would be one of the largest transaction ever by a foreign company in China and likely regulatory approval from the Chinese authorities since the company's operations are almost entirely in China.
Two years ago, regulators blocked bid of $ 2.4 billion of Coca Cola to acquire the Chinese manufacturer Huiyuan Juice, saying that the deal would impede competition in the beverage market.
Bloomberg News the first time this weekend that Nestlé was in talks to buy Hsu Fu Chi, which has a market capitalization of $ 2.6 billion.
But Ms. Sun suggested Monday that Hsu Fu Chi was looking for a partner, rather that trying to sell the entire company.
"Hsu Fu Chi sought a partnership that can help to strengthen the brand of the company for some time," she said. "Since 2007, we have negotiated with companies of the Japan, the United States and Europe on potential partnerships."
In his comments, however, Ms. Sun did not exclude a sale.
Hsu Fu Chi was founded by four brothers of Taiwan and has been operational since the beginning of the 1990s from southern China. The company makes chocolates, candy and pastries.
Xu Yan contributed research.
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