Aeon (TYO:8267) and United Super Markets (TYO:3222) are consolidating their supermarket operations in the Tokyo metropolitan area to create a dominant retail group with over 1 trillion yen in sales.

The deal involves United Super Markets' subsidiary Maxvalu Kanto absorbing Aeon Market and taking over the Kanto region supermarket business of The Daiei, according to its Tokyo bourse filing on Monday.

Following these two transactions -- an absorption-type merger and an absorption-type company split -- United Super Markets will acquire 100% of Maxvalu Kanto's shares from Aeon through a share exchange, issuing approximately 11.5 million new United Super Markets shares.

The integration, scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2026, will see more than 1,000 stores by combining the networks, customer bases, and management resources of the involved companies.

To ensure fairness in this transaction between companies under the common control of Aeon, United Super Markets established a special committee of independent directors and engaged independent financial and legal advisors to review and approve the deal terms.

The parties expect the consolidation to enhance regional adaptability, reduce procurement costs, improve profitability, and drive sustainable growth.