Louis Dreyfus chairwoman open to selling stake — Reuters

Commodity giant Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) is open to selling a large non-controlling stake to an external stakeholder, its Chairwoman Margarita Louis-Dreyfus told Reuters.

Margarita Louis-Dreyfus stressed she was in no rush and that an investor would have to strengthen the business.

“It is the first time in our almost 170-year history that we are prepared to open our capital to an external shareholder. But we are not under pressure. We want to keep majority control. Everything else depends on the quality of offers,” she said in an interview with Reuters.

The group has previously indicated it could bring “regional players” into the business to help strengthen its positions in areas where it seeks expansion, such as China, the message reads.

Previously reported that Margarita Louis-Dreyfus pledged her controlling stake as security for a USD 1.03 bln loan from Credit Suisse Group AG in early 2019.