Lisbon, Dec. 10 - Portugal's competition authority has given its preliminary approval to conglomerate Sonae's purchase of French Carrefour's retail chain in Portugal, Sonae said on Monday.
Sonae's Modelo Continente supermarkets is already the dominant retail chain in Portugal. The purchase of Carrefour's retail chain in Portugal for an enterprise value of 662 million euros, includes 12 existing hypermarkets and licences to construct another 13.
Sonae announced the deal in July.
The competition authority imposed minor conditions on the deal, obliging Sonae to limit the growth of its retail operations over a few years. The final decision should be ready later in December but the competition authority rarely changes its preliminary decisions.
Approval of the operation had been expected.