Three potential suitors linked to the acquisition of a stake in Rungis have refused to comment on their reported interest in the French wholesale food market.
Reports in France have named shopping centre group Altarea, French-Dutch developer Unibail-Rodamco and the public service bank Caisse des Depots on the shortlist for the Paris market, which is valued at over EUR100m (US$141m).
According to French business daily Les Echos, the French state is preparing to reduce its 56% holding in Rungis to 33%.
While two of the parties rumoured to be interested in buying a stake in Rungis are commercial operators, Caisse des Depots is a publicly accountable national savings bank, guaranteed by the two houses of the French parliament.
Caisse des Depots already holds just over 5% in Semmaris, the Rungis management company, and has combined private funds with public works for nearly two centuries.

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By GlobalDataProtecting the public interest in Rungis, which handles at least half the capital’s food, has been a bone of contention ever since the Chirac administration suggested a larger private holding in the market last year.
Officials at Altarea, Unibail-Rodamco and Caisse des Depots remained tight-lipped on the situation when contacted by just-food today (24 September).