Ahold, Delhaize finalise big merger

Dutch retail giant Ahold and Belgian rival Delhaize have said they finalised their megamerger after US regulatory authorities gave the union the green light.

Both groups said they had inked an agreement to take effect from 2201 GMT after the Federal Trade Commission gave its assent.

The FTC had earlier said the sale of 81 stores must be split between seven different US buyers.

“With our new management team we are very happy to continue to serve our clients and other shareholders,” said Ahold CEO Dick Boer, who becomes CEO of the merged firm with Frans Muller, chief executive of Delhaize, to serve as his deputy.

Delhaize chairman Mats Jansson said the two companies were coming together “to create an even stronger international retailer”.

Between them the firms have 6,750 stores in Europe and the United States and employ 380,000 people.

Based in Zaandam just outside Amsterdam, Ahold announced in June last year it was merging with Delhaize to create one of the world’s largest retail companies with a turnover of more than €54 billion (Dh217 billion or $59 billion).

It agreed earlier this month to sell 86 US-based stores to receive approval from competition authorities. Analysts say the merger will create the fifthlargest grocery chain in the fiercely-contested US market and the fourth-largest in Europe.

The pair achieved total sales last year of €62 billion.