McDonald’s sale of its China and Hong Kong franchise is struggling to attract the calibre of bidders the US fast-food empire envisioned, according to people familiar with the situation.
With the auction, announced earlier this year, the company is seeking to reduce its direct exposure to China, where food supply scandals have hurt its share price, and to halt capital expenditure in the region.
But McDonald’s is also looking to fortify its reputation with the sale, which has moved into a second round of bidding and could fetch $2bn-$3bn, according to people briefed on the deal.
Pressure from investors for better quality control in Asia has been reflected in the terms of the deal, said these people, who say some of the conditions, such as keeping management intact for two years and a restriction on taking the franchise public, are onerous.