By Katharina Bart
ZURICH (Reuters) - Nestle (VX:NESN) is in exclusive talks to sell its frozen food unit Davigel to Brakes Group, owned by buyout fund Bain Capital, as part of a drive to trim its sprawling portfolio.
A disposal would come as the world's largest packaged foods maker grapples with slowing growth in economies such as China and Brazil and as shoppers in Europe and North America remain cost conscious. It said two years ago it was seeking to divest underperforming business.
Nestle, whose statement on Wednesday confirmed what a person familiar with the situation had previously told Reuters, missed a long-term sales target last year and has signalled the objective could be difficult to reach this year.
For Brakes, whose brands include Freshfayre and M&J Seafood, the deal would increase its presence in France and would allow it to enter Belgium and Spain.
It would give it exclusive rights to distribute Nestle's branded ice cream to the "out-of-home" market, a category which includes restaurants, in France.
Nestle said it would not give any financial details of the disposal and noted the deal was subject to consultation with works councils and the approval of the competition authorities.
The source had told Reuters the sale was expected to raise between 200 million euros (144 pounds) and 300 million.
Credit Suisse (VX:CSGN) is advising Nestle on the deal, several people familiar with the situation said. The Swiss bank declined to comment.
Davigel, which supplies frozen and chilled meals and ice cream to restaurants and hospitals, was part of the Buitoni frozen food business Nestle bought in 1989.
Nestle has in recent years sold the PowerBar and Musashi brands to U.S. group Post Holdings (N:POST), as well as its U.S. frozen pasta business to Brynwood Partners and the bulk of its Jennie Craig business.
It also sold a 10 percent stake in fragrance and flavour maker Givaudan (VX:GIVN) in December 2013.