Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. (HTSI), the Matthews, North Carolina-based grocery chain exploring a sale, has attracted interest from Royal Ahold NV (AH), the Dutch owner of Stop & Shop stores, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Ahold has contacted JPMorgan Chase & Co., retained by Harris Teeter to evaluate options, and is seeking more information on the sale process, said one of the people, who asked not to be named because the negotiations are private. Ahold hasn’t made a formal bid, according to that person.
“We regard Harris Teeter as a likely deal for Ahold,” Patrick Roquas, an analyst at Rabobank, wrote in a report today. A transaction wouldn’t hurt Ahold’s stock as it’s unlikely that the Amsterdam-based company is willing to put its “credible track record at risk” by paying too much.
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