Regulator seeks more information in Safeway sale

PLEASANTON, Calif. (AP) -- The Federal Trade Commission is asking for more information about the pending sale of Safeway Inc., the grocery store operator said Thursday.

The Pleasanton, Calif.-based company announced in March that it will be acquired by an investment group led by Cerberus Capital Management, the owner of Albertsons and several other supermarket chains. The deal is worth about $7.64 billion in cash, and pending other transactions could top more than $9 billion.

Safeway has said it expects to complete the deal in the fourth quarter, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

The company said Thursday that it has received a second request from the FTC for information and documents. This could extend the waiting period imposed under antitrust law.

Safeway said that both companies involved are cooperating with the FTC.

A representative of the FTC could not be reached for comment.

Shares of Safeway, which operates stores such as Safeway, Vons, Randalls and others grocery stores, fell 16 cents to close at $37.84 Thursday and added 7 cents in after-hours trading.