The supermarket companies Ahold and Delhaize on Tuesday each confirmed their first talks – “exploratory and preliminary talks” – started with a view to a possible merger. The two companies, according to the current situation, have nearly 380,000 employees and about 6,600 stores in Belgium, The Netherlands and the US The unions respond anxious and combative.
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“These discussions may or may not lead to a future transaction. The company will be possible, communicate important information in accordance with applicable regulations” Delhaize said in a brief press release.
In recent days there were in the press about merger talks between the Belgian and Dutch retailer. Ahold is the company behind Albert Heijn.
A combination of the two companies should have few problems for the Belgian market. Albert Heijn company only has thirty shops in our country. But the combination Delhaize Albert Heijn would bump Colruyt on the throne as a market leader. In the Netherlands, Ahold, is already market leader. Moreover, both companies operating in the US, on the east coast, but there’s little overlap.
The two retailers incidentally not talk first about a merger. In 2006-2007, the advanced talks would still be jumped. The larger Ahold would then not able to find have a structure in which the companies would have an equal share in the merged company.
A combination of the two companies would anyway constitute one of the largest supermarket companies in the world. Ahold is now the largest of the two. The company has 227,000 employees. There are 3,200 stores in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic and the United States. In 2014 there was a turnover of 32.8 billion euros and 594 million euros net profit. Delhaize has about 150,000 employees and 3,410 stores in Belgium, the US, Luxembourg, Greece, Romania, Serbia and Indonesia. Last year there was 21.4 billion euro turnover and 89 million euros net profit.
Big gains in the stock market provides official confirmation of talks Tuesday no longer. Delhaize is listed on the Brussels Stock Exchange around 10:50 am about 1.1 percent higher, Ahold in Amsterdam about 2.2 percent higher. The big profits were already Monday, when it regained some share of Delhaize 14.5 percent and Ahold 5.5 percent.
Unions worried
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The exploratory interviews give a very bitter feeling among workers and unions Delhaize, says the union operated LBC. The retail chain this year was in fact only reach a social agreement on restructuring involving 1,800 job losses. “The bride was beautiful embellished to marry them afterwards,” said union secretary Veerle Verleyen.
On the possible merger dominates much anxiety in the workplace sounds. The Christian controlled union demands clarity and greatly regrets that the news through a press release and previously was heard in the newspaper. “I think that we are the first affected party may gain clarity of management, and not through a press release.”
During the negotiations of social restructuring were as Verleyen already rumors about a merger. “The suspicions during the discussions on the transformation plan come true.” There were asked about the issue, but there was then no affirmative response, it sounds.
Or a merger would be a good or a bad thing remains to be seen, it still sounds. “We must be alert to the consequences. It means a scale, but it should not be a story of deregulation and social degradation.” The agreements concerning the transformation plan should be respected, “or the owner now or Delhaize Ahold”.
This Monday is a works council on the agenda at Delhaize. LBC there will first get a clear picture of the state of affairs. In function of a decision will follow on possible industrial action
BBTK:. Not exclude spontaneous actions
The socialist federation operated BBTK is surprised and extremely angry now Delhaize and Ahold (Albert Heijn) have confirmed that they have started exploratory talks about a merger. “We conclude spontaneous actions not matter, but do not they organize themselves. The staff responds toxic,” said union secretary Jan De Weghe.
“In the negotiations on the social agreement we have said that the fight yet is over. But now she’s even faster than expected. “
The trade unionist also does not take the Delhaize management during the past negotiations, according to him like a” finger “reached for Ahold because of” unfair competition “. There would be more flexibility, fewer breaks or even a cheaper distribution (from Tilburg in the Netherlands), it sounds. “The sacrifices and closures have only just behind us, and now they are talking with the greatest challenge ever quoted the board,” said De Weghe.
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