Bids from WM Morrison, Sainsbury, Wal-Mart/Asda and Tesco for supermarket chain Safeway were referred to the UK competition commission this week. Phillip Green, who bankers say may have financial backing from HBOS and Merrill Lynch, has escaped referral. Bankers were surprised that WM Morrison, which is Safeway's weakest competitor, has been referred. Morrison has secured £2bn in cash from ABN Amro. WestLB and HBOS have provided Tesco with £2.9bn. UBS and Goldman Sachs are supporting Sainsbury.
March 21, 2003