British retail entrepreneur Mr Philip Green has requested financial information from Safeway , and is considering joining a four-way takeover battle for Britain's fourth largest supermarket chain, a source close to the matter said today.
Mr Green, who owns British clothes retail groups Bhs and Arcadia, asked for financial information that Safeway gave Wm Morrison Supermarkets before it made a bid for the group 10 days ago, the source said.
Since then, Safeway has been targeted by rival chains Sainsbury and Wal-Mart, as well as US buyout giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in a £3 billion-plus fight for its 480 underperforming stores.
Safeway officials were not immediately available for comment.
