The Chinese chemicals group seeking to acquire a Hungarian company owned by Permira, the UK buy-out fund, would not be a “disruptive force” if takeover talks succeed, according to its top executive.

The chief executive of Wanhua Industrial insisted the Shanghai-listed company had a strategic ambition to bolster the finances, technology and product range of Borsodchem, which is in advanced talks with lenders to restructure €1.1bn ($1.6bn) of debt.