Beijing - Chinese authorities on Wednesday rejected the takeover of China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd, a leading producer of fruit juices, by the Coca Cola Company, the world's largest maker of beverages.

   A takeover could have negative effects on competition, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement, the official Xinhua news agency said. Coca Cola's bid failed to meet China's anti-monopoly law, the ministry added.

   Coca Cola's 2.4-billion-dollar offer for Huiyuan would have been the biggest takeover of a Chinese business by a foreign company. The US-based beverage maker's offer was well above Huiyuan's Hong-Kong listed share price.

   Huiyuan is China's largest privately owned juice producer.

   Coca Cola said the three largest shareholders, who among them hold 66 per cent of Huiyuan, had already given their agreement to the deal. French food company Groupe Danone holds 23 per cent of the Chinese juice maker.