London (CNN Business) Morrisons has become a takeover target for three major American private equity groups amid strong investor appetite for UK assets that could spark a bidding war for Britain's fourth biggest supermarket chain. The private equity group declined to comment Monday on whether it intends to table a second offer. Sainsbury's JSNSF In October, Walmart sold supermarket chain Asda to European private equity group TDR Capital and the founders of a global convenience store business. Private equity groups have announced 12 bids for UK-listed companies this year, compared with one deal over the same period last year, according to Dealogic. UK labor union Unite, which represents Morrisons workers, has met the bid with suspicion.

Source: CNN July 05, 2021 14:03 UTC