D-Day looms for Asda takeover bids

The future of Asda could be decided this week, as private equity firms finalise bids for the £6.5bn supermarket chain. Rivals Apollo Global Management and Lone Star Funds are understood to have been preparing offers to buy Britain’s third largest supermarket from US giant Walmart. Bids are due on Monday. Both companies drafted in retail veterans to help advise on their offers, hiring Rob Templeman, the former boss of Debenhams, and Paul Mason, ex-Asda CEO, respectively. The two firms