China Holds Talks With HSBC, Deutsche Bank on Potash Response, Times Says

Several banks have held talks with officials of the Chinese government and state-controlled entities such as Sinochem Group on how China might respond to BHP Billiton Ltd.’s $39 billion bid for Potash Corp., the London-based Times reported, citing unidentified bankers close to the situation.

The banks include HSBC Holdings Plc, Morgan Stanley, Nomura Holdings Inc., UBS AG and Deutsche Bank AG, the newspaper said.

Options such as the acquisition of a blocking stake or a rival bid have been discussed; the Chinese haven’t yet issued any formal mandate, according to the bankers, the Times said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Alan Purkiss in London on apurkiss@bloomberg.net.

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