Morrisons has remained silent on reports it is preparing a GBP1bn (US$1.53bn) takeover bid for online retailer Ocado.
The company, which entered into a co-operation agreement with the online grocer last month, declined to comment on “market rumour”.
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A report in the UK today (24 April) said there were “rumours” the Morrisons board had decided to launch a GBP1bn offer for Ocado.
Last month, Morrisons and Ocado confirmed they were in talks that could help the UK’s fourth-largest grocer launch its online food service.
The talks, Morrisons said at the time, were about plans to “licence certain of Ocado’s intellectual property and operating knowledge”.
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Unlike its major rivals, the UK’s fourth-largest retailer does not sell food online but last month announced plans to set up the service next year.
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By GlobalDataMorrisons said a deal with Ocado could form “part of the implementation of the strategy to entering that market”. It added: “Morrisons decision to enter the online grocery market is not dependent on the outcome of these discussions. There is no certainty that an agreement will be reached.”
A spokesperson told just-food today the company’s newly-launched strategy to expand online “is still on track” and added: “Nothing very much has changed.”
