Sainsbury Hires Bain Consultants Before CMA Rules on Asda Merger

J Sainsbury Plc hired Bain Capital Specialty Finance Inc. consultants to work on its integration with Walmart Inc.’s Asda before the regulator rules on the planned takeover, the London-based Sunday Times reported.

While Sainsbury estimates the merger would create 500 million pounds (about $640 million) in savings from better negotiation with suppliers, the Competition and Markets Authority has said it fears the loss of one of the big four U.K. supermarkets would ultimately curb competition and push up prices.

The biggest U.K. merger review in years has seen months of back and forth, culminating in a court clash in December ...