A report in Sunday’s Observer newspaper claims that Somerfield has been the subject of three takeover offers.
The offers for the 900-store Bristol-based chain, valued at around £1.8 billion according to analysts, are all said to have been received in recent weeks.
Somerfield is owned by a consortium headed by property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz, and also including private equity firm Apax and investment bank Barclays Capital, which took control in a £1.1bn takeover in 2006.
The newspaper does not name any suitors, but claims that Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons could be interested. One option is for the chain to be sold in chunks to the other major supermarkets groups.
Tchenguiz is rumoured to be under pressure following a significant loss of value in his Sainsbury’s stockholding.
But Somerfield refused to comment on the speculation.
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