The Sainsbury family has written to the Qatari prime minister to emphasise its opposition to a buyout of the UK supermarket chain by his investment fund Delta Two.

Sources told The Times newspaper that Lord Sainsbury of Turville and Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover wrote last week to Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr al-Thani after a meeting between the two parties in Sardinia.

They made it clear in the letter they would not back any takeover of Sainsbury's that left the group too heavily indebted or sold off any of its lucrative property portfolio.

A source close to the family said they were furious about being left in the dark over the £10.4 billion bid. Delta Two had reportedly said it would approach senior family members with its bid plans after the Sardinia appointment.

But the source said Delta Two had made no further contact with the family, which is key to any takeover with its 18 per cent share in the retailer. The family will only consider offers above 600p a share, and also insists the managemen team is left intact and an agreement is reached with the pension trustees.

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