SHANGHAI, September 3, 2008 (AFP) - US soft drinks giant Coca-Cola Co. said Wednesday it planned to buy Chinese juice maker Huiyuan Juice Group in a 2.4-billion-dollar deal that would be its biggest acquisition in China.

Coca-Cola will offer 12.20 Hong Kong dollars (1.6 US dollars) per share in Hong Kong-listed Huiyuan, it said in a statement, adding three shareholders holding a total of 66 percent in the company had accepted the offer.

Coca-Cola said it intended for Huiyuan, one of China's best-known juice brands, to carry on its business, but that it would later review its operations and look for synergies.