Ahold May Seek U.S. Acquisitions, Avoid Bids, BofA Merrill Says

Royal Ahold NV, the Dutch owner of Stop & Shop supermarkets, is more likely to make an acquisition in the U.S. than it is to sell any units in the country, analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch said.

The brokerage’s view that Amsterdam-based Ahold may be a target for acquirers “now looks less likely,” analysts including John Kershaw and Andrew Gwynn wrote in a note today, cutting their rating on the stock to “neutral” from “buy”. The bank cited comments from Dick Boer, the company’s incoming chief executive officer, which “suggest a sale of the U.S. is likely someway down its list of strategic options.”