Puerto Rico’s justice department has given the go ahead to US retail giant Wal-Mart to purchase the Puerto Rican supermarket chain Supermercados Amigo.
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Justice Secretary Anabelle Rodriguez said Wal-Mart had agreed to maintain the current number of employees for ten years and would not substitute full-time employees with part-time employees.
The justice department of Puerto Rico had previously tried to block the sale despite the fact that the US Federal Trade Commission had given its approval to the deal. Wal-Mart is, however, only permitted to buy 32 of the 36 Amigo stores due to US antitrust laws.
Wal-Mart also agreed to continue buying the same levels of agricultural products from Puerto Rican suppliers for the next ten years.
Last year, Puerto Rico’s justice department succeeded in temporarily blocking the sale in the Superior Court, while Wal-Mart brought a lawsuit in federal court, where the judge ruled against Puerto Rico.
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By GlobalDataFederal Judge Juan Perez Gimenez expressed an opinion that Rodriguez’ attempts to block the sale amounted to “protectionism of local suppliers that is forbidden” by federal law, reported Dow Jones International News.
Wal-Mart already operates 19 stores in Puerto Rico, including eight Sam’s Club stores.
