Retailer Aeon Co. said Friday it will acquire a 15 percent stake in Kasumi Co. within a month, becoming the largest shareholder in the midsize supermarket chain operator.
With the capital tieup, Aeon, which operates the Jusco supermarket chain, will put Kasumi under its group's control and bolster its business base in the Tokyo metropolitan area, company officials said. Kasumi is based in the northern Kanto region.
The two retailers said they will cooperate in such fields as product procurement, credit card business and merchandise coupons.
The firms will strengthen their capital ties under the agreement.