Chinese conglomerate HNA Hospitality Group has not held talks with AccorHotels to buy shares in the French hotel group and has no plans to have such discussion, the company said over the weekend. HNA issued the statement in response to recent reports that AccorHotels was trying to join forces with HNA to prevent Jin Jiang Hotels from increasing its stake in Accor and triggering a public offer. Jin Jiang already holds 15.6 percent of Accor’s listed shares, according to Reuters. A French newspaper reported that AccorHotels CEO Sebastien Bazin hoped to prevent Jin Jiang from increasing its stake to 29 percent. “As of now, HNA Hospitality Group neither has discussed with French AccorHotels Group on the equity acquisition, nor plans to have such discussion. Relating reports are false,” HNA said. To read more, click here.
