Apparently more context is needed. If the holdings were sold directly to company X. /sold to/ is correct. However, if they were sold to affiliates or other enterprises that favor company XXX in the marketplace, /in favor of/ would have to be maintained.
The definition of “affiliated company” will vary, depending on the context in which the term is used. One way that companies are considered affiliated is when one company owns less than the majority interest in another company. Companies also may be affiliated when they are subsidiaries of a third company. Another test of affiliation is the amount of effective control that a company has over another company, even though a relatively small percentage of stock may be held, such as 10 percent or 25 percent.
Read more at
http://www.yourdictionary.com/affiliated-company#CIQIMhw090Y...
peer agreement (net): -1
