Safeway says its deal to be sold to private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management is on track to close in January The deal moved closer to the finish line on Dec. 19 when the companies agreed to sell 168 stores across eight states, in a bid to gain merger approval from U.S. antitrust regulators. Four days later Safeway announced that it had sold its shopping center and real estate development assets , to Terramar Retail Centers.