Private equity firms CVC Capital Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Blackstone and TPG - confirmed as a member of the consortium - said they were at the preliminary stages of assessing an offer, in a statement to the stock exchange last month.
If a bid for the grocer goes ahead, it would be the largest leveraged buyout in Europe.
Cinven had been in talks with Texas Pacific for a rival consortium bid, estimated at about£10 billion. However, Texas Pacific subsequently joined the CVC-led group, and left Cinven without a partner.
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