The parent company of Scarborough-based Hannaford Supermarkets is considering a merger with another European company that has a large presence in New England.
The Portland Press Herald reported that Belgium-based Delhaize Group confirmed on Wednesday that it is in the preliminary stages of exploring a merger with Netherlands-based Royal Ahold NV, which owns the Stop & Shop supermarket chain.
“These discussions may or may not result in a future transaction,” Delhaize said in a press release on Tuesday. “The company will communicate material updates, if any, in accordance with regulatory requirements.”
The company’s confirmation comes after news reports began citing company insiders talking about the possible merger. The news was welcomed by investors, with shares of Delhaize (NYSE: DEG) closing up 14.2%, to $23.04, on Monday.
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