LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s Co-operative Group said on Friday it was aware of an over 450 million pounds ($545 million) legal claim issued by the liquidators of The Food Retailer Operations Limited which it is disputing.
The Co-op, which is owned by its members, and operates Britain’s seventh largest supermarket chain as well as funeral, insurance and legal services, said the claim was in connection with transactions in 2015 and 2016 relating to the Somerfield supermarket business it acquired in 2009.
“Co-op strongly disputes both liability and quantum of the claim and the claim will be vigorously defended,” it said in a statement.
($1 = 0.8254 pounds)
(Reporting by James Davey, Editing by Paul Sandle)
