Ahold Czech Republic, operator of the Albert supermarket chain, is poised to buy Valome International from ING Bank. Valome is active in leasing commercial space. The transaction must still be approved by the antimonopoly office (UOHS), but Ahold hopes it will be greenlighted before the end of September. Neither party has commented on the transaction. The spokesman of UOHS, Martin Švanda, told Hospodářské noviny that Ahold is taking over a company that leased it the properties where it has supermarkets. Ahold has been active in the Czech Republic since 1990 and operates 300 hyper- and supermarkets across the country, employing 17,500 staff.
