Ahold, Delhaize In Final Stages Of Merger Talks

(RTTNews) - Dutch supermarket chain Royal Ahold NV said Tuesday that it was in the final stages of negotiations with Belgian peer Delhaize Group about a potential merger but that no definitive agreement on a deal has been reached.

The statement came after Dutch newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad reported that a deal could be announced as early as this week and that Ahold would hold about 60% of the combined company, which would be headed by current Ahold chief executive Dick Boer.

Ahold and Delhaize confirmed on May 12 that both companies were conducting preliminary discussions on a business combination.