Bellamy's believes a third party complained to China regulator
Says complaint was about historic quality issues
Shares suspended until July 24
(Adds context, details about licence suspension and share price)
July 11 (Reuters) - Infant formula maker Bellamy's Australia Ltd (BAL) said it has requested an extension of a share trading halt as it seeks more information about China's decision to suspend the import licence of its newly-acquired Australian cannery.
After entering a trading halt on July 7 following the suspension, Bellamy's said in a statement on Tuesday the Chinese regulator in charge of its import licence had asked it for "certain information" about its Camperdown Powder Pty Ltd factory. [nASXbrc3lr]
The licence suspension was a result of allegations a third party had made to Chinese authorities about "certain previous quality issues" concerning Camperdown's processing facility, it added. A Bellamy's spokesman would not name the third party.
China accounts for a third of Bellamy's revenue and a third of its pre-tax profit, according to its half-yearly earnings update in February.
The regulator had not made any findings against Camperdown, Bellamy's said.
In any case, the licence suspension would not affect its China-bound formula since the factory currently made product only for third-party vendors.
Bellamy's stock last traded at A$6.74 on Thursday, sharply down from a peak about A$15.1 last August.
The company requested its shares be suspended until July 24.