- Wal-Mart was cleared by a federal judge to acquire Supermercados Amigo in Puerto Rico for $225 million, less than a month after the government there tried to block the purchase.
Puerto Rico's justice department tried to argue that Wal-Mart’s purchase of the company violated the island's antitrust laws, even after the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved it.
However, Puerto Rico officials said they plan to appeal the decision.
- KC's View:
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There’s no way we can see Wal-Mart losing this case. None.
It smacks of the kind of protectionism that so many retailers would like to exist, but that simply cannot in a free economy.
Retailers that expect legislation or judicial decisions to protect them from Wal-Mart ought to think again. It is time to stop bellyaching and start competing.
