The pair achieved total sales last year of 62 billion euros ($70 billion) -- 38.2 billion for Ahold and 24.4 billion for Delhaize. Ahold shareholders will own 61 percent of the combined company and Delhaize Group shareholders the remaining 39 percent. THE HAGUE - Dutch retail giant Ahold and Belgian rival Delhaize on Saturday said they had finalised their mega-merger after US regulatory authorities gave the union the green light. Delhaize chairman Mats Jansson said the two companies were coming together "to create an even stronger international retailer". 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 euros ($59 billion).

Source: Bangkok Post July 23, 2016 16:30 UTC