Coca-Cola’s bid for China Huiyuan under review

Coca-Cola’s takeover bid for China Huiyuan Juice Group is under review by China’s ministry of commerce for anti-trust issues, it has been reported.

The company announced its plans to buy China Huiyuan for $2.4 billion (1.6 billion pounds) in September before applying to the ministry. The deadline for the anti-trust review is March 23rd 2009.

If Coca-Cola’s bid is approved by the authorities, it is predicted to be the biggest ever foreign takeover of a Chinese firm by a foreign company.

China Huiyuan Juice Group’s products are then likely to join the company’s beverage range, which includes the recently added Red Tea Pomegranate Passion Fruit.

The drink, voted one of the Top 12 Cool New Products by retailers, according to Coca-Cola, is part of the Nestea ready-to-drink iced tea line and will be launched in the US in February.

People in science sales jobs may also be interested in other products introduced by the company this year, such as Full Throttle energy drink.