Four potential buyers are left in the running for ParknShop including a Japanese retail group and an Australian supermarket chain operator that many locals favor.
They are China Resources, Japan-based Aeon Group, Australia's Woolworths, and the Charoen Pokphand Group of Thailand, according to a Dow Jones Newswire report. Representatives of the four companies have met executives of Hutchison Whampoa, owner of the 345-store chain, the second largest of its kind in Hong Kong.
A street survey by The Standard last month found that Hongkongers were most keen to see either Aeon or Woolworths become the new operator of ParknShop. It was reported that eight parties had submitted bids for ParknShop last month.
Before that, two private-equity firms including KKR & Co and TPG Capital did not make the first round as their offers were too low. Hutchison Whampoa has not decided when to finalize the sale.
