The Battle for Safeway

As the bidding war for Safeway - which began in January - reaches its climax, News Online explains how the five different bids for Safeway compare, and what factors the Competition Commission has been examining.

WHO WANTS TO TAKE OVER SAFEWAY?
PLAYER	COMPANY SIZE	BID	MARKET SHARE	COMPETITION ISSUES
MORRISONS	Fifth largest UK supermarket chain, turnover £3.9bn.	£2.9bn bid was made but that offer has now lapsed.	6.1% now, more than 15% if it wins Safeway.	The two combined would challenge Sainsbury, and be the biggest in Northeast England and Yorkshire.
SAINSBURY	UK number three supermarket chain, turnover £18.2bn.	Possible bid: £3.2bn in cash and shares.	16.1%.	Combination would be over limit of 25%. Sainsbury is willing to shed 90 stores.
ASDA	The second-ranked UK player, turnover at US parent Wal-Mart £150bn.	Wal-Mart has the financial muscle to fund a £4bn all-cash bid.	16.9%.	Wal-Mart said it might have to sell some of its UK stores to get the deal cleared by regulators.
TESCO	The UK's biggest supermarket chain, turnover £26bn.	Possible bid: cash and shares.	27.1%.	Would control about a third of the market, even after Tesco's plan to sell one quarter of Safeway's stores.
PHILIP GREEN	Tycoon owner of BHS, Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins.	Possible bid: £3.2bn in cash.	Mr Green would have more than 3,000 stores on the High Street.	None, as it would be Mr Green's first move into food retailing.