Dia is taking over the Spanish division of troubled German drugstore chain Schlecker for e70.5m (£55.9m). The deal includes 1,127 outlets in Spain and 41 stores in Portugal, as well as four distribution centres, three in Spain and one in Portugal. Dia will also retain the 4,000 former Schlecker employees.

The competition commission’s approval is expected before April 2013. Schlecker Spain was the only division that was not insolvent.