German wholesaler Metro is talking to banks about finding a partner for its China business, a spokesman said on Wednesday, confirming a report by news agency Bloomberg.
Bloomberg had reported that Metro was working with banks Citi and JP Morgan on reviewing options for its China unit, including selling a minority stake or finding a strategic partner.
Metro runs 93 stores in China and reported like-for-like sales up 2.9% in Asia in the first nine months of its 2017/18 financial year.
Focus On Cash-And-Carry Business
Once a sprawling retail conglomerate, Metro has been restructuring in recent years to focus on its core cash-and-carry business, selling its Kaufhof department stores and then splitting from consumer electronics group Ceconomy .
Analysts have speculated that the revamp could go further since Czech investor Daniel Kretinsky took a stake in the company, which last month announced plans to sell its struggling Real hypermarket chain.
News by Reuters, edited by ESM. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
