From the WSJ:
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is seeking to purchase a local unit of France's Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA, a few weeks after he first ordered the expropriation of one of the retail chains controlled by the French company.
Venezuela has started negotiations with Casino to buy an 80% stake in Cativen, Casino's local subsidiary, after the French company offered to sell it to the government following the seizure of its Almacenes Exito retail chain, Mr. Chávez said Saturday.
"They want to sell to Venezuela," he said.
He said the government has started "friendly negotiations" with the French company to purchase Cativen and its chain of grocery stores, known as Cada.
No possible financial terms were disclosed. Monday Casino confirmed it was in discussions but declined to comment further.
