Private equity suitors eye potential Sainsbury's swoop as UK supermarket takeover frenzy hots up

The boss of Sainsbury's recently said his focus was on delivering the British supermarket group's strategy rather than the takeover frenzy that has gripped the UK's grocery retail sector.

Shares in Sainsbury's, Britain's second-largest grocer after market leader Tesco, have surged this year, buoyed by bid speculation. File picture. 

Private equity companies are, reportedly, circling British supermarket group Sainsbury's with a view to possibly launching bids of more than £7bn (€8.1bn).

American buyout giant Apollo is said to be running the rule over the supermarket group, according to speculation in Britain.