Update

Kroger to buy A&P stores
Kroger Co., said it will buy 20 Farmer Jack stores in the Detroit metro area from the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Inc. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 20 stores will be folded into Kroger's Columbus, Ohio-based Great Lakes division. The unit currently operates 244 stores in Ohio, West Virginia and Michigan. The deal is expected to close in July.

Related article:
A&P to close Farmer Jack stores

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Apollo Management to buy Wild Oats stores
Private equity firm Apollo Management Holding LP plans to buy some stores owned by Wild Oats Markets Inc. if the planned sale to its larger rival, Whole Foods Market Inc., is approved. John Mackey, Whole Foods' chairman and chief executive, said that the company has negotiated a deal with "a large private-equity firm" to sell the Henry's and Sun Harvest farmers-market brands owned by Wild Oats. He did not specify how many stores are involved, but Wild Oats owns 29 Henry's stores in California and eight Sun Harvest stores in Texas.

 

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit seeking to block Whole Foods' $565 million purchase of Wild Oats, saying it would reduce competition and raise prices for consumers. The companies compete in more than 20 metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Denver and Phoenix.

Related article:
FTC files antitrust suit against Whole Foods

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Woolworths and Wesfarmers make formal bid for Coles
Woolworths and Wesfarmers have until June 30 to submit their formal takeover offers for Coles. The Woolworths board is expected to hold a special meeting prior to the deadline, in order to approve its bids for Coles' general merchandise assets.

 

Further due diligence will be conducted over coming days, but Woolworths is close to determining the price it is willing to pay for the Officeworks chain and for Target or Kmart. Meanwhile, directors of TPG Capital are thought to have met in the US to consider whether the private equity firm should continue with its own A$20 billion (€12,6 billion) offer for Coles.

Related article:
Coles considers part sales