Brazil's IMC in talks to merge with a fund of Vinci Compass, source says
VINP•IMC and Vinci Compass fund in preliminary merger talks
RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Brazilian restaurant operator IMC and a fund of Brazilian asset management Vinci Compass are in preliminary talks for a merger, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The talks are for a tie-up between IMC, which operates Frango Assado and Pizza Hut in Brazil, and the Vinci fund that controls local operations of Outback, the source said.
- The preliminary talks for the deal were reported by local newspaper Valor Economico earlier on Thursday.
- IMC said in a statement that it "does not comment on market rumors."
- The firm added that it has proposed to extend debt maturities, which includes potential asset sales to repay obligations.
- Vinci Compass did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Pedro Fonseca in Rio de Janeiro; additional reporting by Isabel Teles and Andre Romani; Editing by Chris Reese and Kylie Madry)
