Shares of Whole Foods Market rocketed 28 percent on Friday after Amazon said it plans to acquire the grocery store chain for $42 a share, in a deal valued at $13.7 billion. Amazon’s offer represents a 27 percent premium to Whole Foods’ closing price on Thursday. The deal is expected to close in the second half year. Whole Foods has been under pressure from Jana Partners hedge fund and money management firm Neuberger Berman, which have called on Whole Foods to sell itself. The investors have criticized Whole Foods for its poor performance, and have suggested the chain could be merged with another grocer.
Amazon to acquire Whole Foods
