ABF may eye Azucarera Ebro bid

LONDON (Reuters) - Associated British Foods Plc (ABF.L), the owner of British Sugar, is in talks to buy Spanish rival Azucarera Ebro in a 500 million pounds deal, reported the Mail on Sunday.

It said ABF was approached by advisers for Spanish parent company Ebro Puleva (EVA.MC) after European sugar refiners attempted to consolidate following EU sugar subsidy reforms in 2006.

German groups Nordzucker, which recently bought Danish firm Danisco, and Sudzucker are also interested in a Spanish acquisition, said the report.

No-one at ABF could immediately be reached for comment.