Danone has postponed plans to buy a Russian juice producer amid growing political instability in the country, according to newspaper reports.


Although the French food group confirmed in mid-October that it was in talks to buy Wimm-Bill-Dann, the Financial Times (UK) today reported that the planned takeover had been postponed.


The story could not give specific reasons for the development, but cited unnamed individuals close to the talks. The FT linked the stalling of the talks to investors’ concerns about Russia, following the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, chief of Russian oil firm YUKOS by federal prosecutors.


Neither company were available for comment on the report.


Danone, makers of Evian mineral water, holds 7.2% of the capital in Wim-Bill-Dann, which is valued at $900m.

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