
HONG KONG -- State-owned conglomerate China CITIC Group has confirmed it is in talks to acquire assets from CEFC China Energy, a formerly acquisitive private oil company recently brought to heel by Beijing.
CITIC Group Chairman Chang Zhenming said at an earnings briefing on Wednesday of Hong Kong-listed subsidiary CITIC Ltd., that the parent company and CEFC are in "preliminary contact." Chang, who is also chairman of the listed company, declined to give further details.