Zhejiang Geely bids for Manganese Bronze

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has submitted a bid to buy Manganese Bronze Holdings the maker of London's black taxis that is under creditor protection, two people familiar with the matter said.

Zhejiang Geely, which owns Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars, is offering to buy 80.03 per cent of Manganese Bronze, one of the people said, declining to say how much the company is offering for the stake. Both people asked not to be named as talks are private.

A purchase of the taxi maker will help Zhejiang Geely, the closely held carmaker headed by Li Shufu, speed up its overseas expansion.

Manganese Bronze, which has made taxis in Coventry, England since 1948, is fighting for survival after going into administration - a form of creditor protection - on October 30 after the tie-up with Geely Automobile Holdings failed to yield savings.

Geely Auto, the Hong Kong-traded unit of Zhejiang Geely, owns 19.97 per cent in the taxi maker.

The listed unit is not involved in its mainland counterpart's bid, one of the people said.