Dutch group Royal Ahold has agreed to take over Belgian group Delhaize, the owner of the Mega Image supermarket network, for EUR 9.3 billion in shares.

This deal is the largest retail transaction in the last ten years and will create the fourth largest food retailer in Europe and fifth largest in the US. Ahold shareholders will own a 61% stake in the new company following the transaction, reports Reuters.

The two companies operate together 6,300 stores worldwide, with annual sales of over EUR 54 billion. They cover 4% of the retail market in the USA.

The new company resulting from the merger will be called Ahold Delhaize.

Mega Image is the largest supermarket network in Romania, with over 400 stores and a turnover of some EUR 630 million in 2014.

editor@romania-insider.com