Fresh pressure to split property and grocery businesses?
Investment fund Delta Two -a vehicle of the Qatari royal family - has acquired a 17.4 per cent stake in supermarket Sainsbury's, making it one of the biggest shareholders.

Delta Two said it bought 302 million shares in the retailer, but did not confirm how much it paid for them.

The purchase could put pressure on Sainsbury's to split its property and supermarket businesses. The fund is thought to have links with Robert Tchenguiz, who owns a 5 per cent stake in the grocer and has called for the retail chain to be separated.

Sainsbury's shares rose 7 per cent yesterday, following a large one-off share trade, now known to have been transacted by Delta Two.

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