J Sainsbury PLC (LSE:SBRY) could be the next among the big UK supermarket groups to face bid interest from private equity companies after Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC (LSE:MRW) last week agreed an offer from US private equity group Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.
The US buyout firm Apollo is exploring the possibility of a bid for Sainsbury’s, according to the Sunday Times. The newspaper said Apollo has been scouring the industry for targets after being outbid for Asda by the billionaire Issa brothers last year.
According to the Guardian, one complication with Apollo looking at Sainsbury's is that the buyout group, which was originally in the running to buy Morrisons, has said it is considering teaming up with Fortress. Any involvement in buying Morrisons would make a move on Sainsbury’s less likely, the report said.
Morrisons last week recommended a 285p per share cash offer from US private equity group CD&R, valuing the grocer at £7bn. The bid trumped a previous £6.7bn offer from rival bidder Fortress.