Ashurst Morris Crisp client WM Morrison has emerged as the sole cleared bidder for Safeway leaving Morrison favourite to secure the deal and Ashursts in line to reap a fees windfall from this year’s most high profile deal.

The Department of Trade and Industry’s decision, announced this morning (26 September), saw rival bidders: J Sainsbury, advised by Linklaters, Wal-Mart, advised by Slaughter and May, and Tesco advised by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, left out in the cold.