The £11.8 billion ($24.7 billion) buyout bid for British supermarket chain J Sainsbury plc — the biggest pending buyout in Europe — bit the dust Nov. 5. The Qatar government-backed Delta (Two) Ltd., which had initiated talks in July, pulled its 600 pence per share proposal, citing pension-funding uncertainty and global credit issues. Some analysts suspect that doubts about the value that could be realized from Sainsbury's property holdings may also have played a part. Sainsbury shares fell 20%, to 440 pence, on Nov. 5. — John E. Morris
