The Office of Fair Trading is reportedly hoping to refer its findings on all five potential bids for UK supermarket chain Safeway to UK Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt this week.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The OFT plans to present its conclusions regarding which bidders should be referred to the Competition Commission, reported Dow Jones Business News, citing a source close to the OFT.
The OFT is hoping to put the Trade Secretary in a position where she can announce on all decisions at the same time, at some point next week, the source said.
UK supermarket companies William Morrison, J Sainsbury, Tesco and Wal-Mart’s Asda are among the potential bidders, together with entrepreneur Philip Green.
An OFT spokesman refused to comment on exact timings. He said there is a “theoretical possibility” that findings on all five parties could be sent to the Hewitt’s Department of Trade and Industry at the same time, but that it was not inevitable.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData
