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Loblaw-Shoppers deal approved by Canada's Competition Bureau

Reuters

TORONTO (Reuters) - Loblaw Cos Ltd (Toronto:L.TO - News), Canada's largest grocer, said on Friday Canada's competition watchdog has approved its C$12.4 billion ($11 billion) acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart Corp (Toronto:SC.TO - News), the country's biggest pharmacy chain.

The deal cements Loblaw's No. 1 position in Canada at a time when competition from domestic retailers such as Sobeys and U.S. retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT - News) and Target (NYSE:TGT - News) is heating up.

To win approval from the Competition Bureau, Loblaw has agreed to sell 18 stores and nine pharmacy operations. The company said it does not expect any store closures as a result of these divestitures.

Loblaw said it now expects the deal to close on March 28.

($1 = 1.1252 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Euan Rocha; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)