AUSTIN-
The Federal Trade Commission wants more information about Whole Foods Markets Inc.’s purchase of rival natural-foods retailer Wild Oats Markets Inc.
The companies said in regulatory filings Wednesday that they received the requests from the FTC the day before.
Last month, Austin-based Whole Foods announced that it would pay $565 million, or $18.50 per share, for Boulder, Colo.-based Wild Oats. Whole Foods has experienced slower growth recently, raising pressure on company executives to grow more quickly.
Wild Oats operates about 110 natural foods stores in 24 states and Canada under several names, including Wild Oats Marketplace and Sun Harvest.
Shares of Whole Foods rose 25 cents, to $44.45, and Wild Oats shares fell 8 cents, to $18.13 Thursday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
