Sainsbury’s ponders £12bn offer

Sainsbury’s, the country’s third-largest grocer, has been approached by a Middle Eastern investment fund about a possible takeover worth some £12bn. Qatar-based investment firm Delta Two will table a written takeover proposal at 610 pence a share on Wednesday.

Delta Two already owns a 24% stake in the supermarket firm and has been long considered as a potential suitor.

Earlier this year Sainsbury’s rejected a bid from a private equity firm , CVC.

Sainsbury’s said that the latest approach “may or may not lead to an offer being made”.

Adding that the board would make a further announcement “as appropriate”.

Sainsbury’s shares added 9 pence, or 1.5%, to 594.5 in London.

The Financial Times said that Sainsbury’s management, headed by chief executive Justin King, was willing to discuss the Delta Two offer.

However, it added that the Sainsbury family, which controls about 18% of the firm’s shares, was lukewarm about the proposal.

A number of industry analysts said that the size of the deal could tempt the Sainsbury family to sell and that the Qatari fund could well be willing to sweeten its offer even more.

“We believe the takeout price could be significantly higher,” said analysis firm Numis.

“Sainsbury is an attractive investment opportunity, and we are today raising our target price to 700p.”

Speculation about Sainsbury’s future has been swirling since a number of investors called on the company to be split up.

Amongst the most vocal has been property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz, who owns a 5% stake in the company and wants Sainsbury’s to separate its retail operations and real estate holdings.

That would allow the company sell off property holdings, returning cash to shareholders, analysts said.

However, Sainsbury’s bosses have said that the firm’s property holdings were key to its future.

Reuters quoted an unidentified source close to the talks as saying that the approach by Delta Two was “friendly and supportive” and not connected with Mr Tchenguiz.

Delta Two is run by Paul Taylor, a former employee of Mr Tchenguiz.

In a statement, Mr Taylor said that the Qatari investment company was interested in “strategic, long-term investments in exceptional businesses, principally in the UK”.

The fund wanted to focus on companies that have “strong incumbent management teams, leading market positions and long-term growth opportunities”, he said.