International News - Ahold angers D&S over currency choice for store sale repayment cost

Chilean supermarket group D&S is in dispute with Ahold over the sale of 10 stores in Argentina three years ago.

The argument is about which currency Ahold uses to pay D&S for the stores.

The Chilean retailer argues that it should be paid in dollars and receive US$90 million (£56 million), while the Dutch group wants to make the payment in Argentine pesos, thereby valuing the deal at around US$38 million (£23.6 million). Argentina has recently insisted that repayment of debt be paid in pesos.

An Ahold spokesman said: 'We will be paying the remaining 90 million pesos that we owe D&S by May this year. Although we understand that there may be concerns from D&S, we have not been approached by them.'

- Ahold reported that global sales last year increased by 9.2 per cent to EUR 72.7 billion (£47.22 billion).