Staples, Office Depot in Advanced Talks to Merge

Office-supply chains Staples Inc and Office Depot Inc are in advanced talks to merge, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

The price and structure of the proposed deal couldn't be learned and there is no guarantee a deal will be reached, the newspaper reported.

Staples has a market value of about $11 billion, while Office Depot has a market value of about $4.1 billion.

Last month, activist investor Starboard Value LP called for the two companies to merge, saying a combined entity would lead to greater savings.

A merger would help fend off intense competition from online retailers such as Amazon.com Inc and big-box chains such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc that sell the same core office supplies, such as paper and ink toner, for less.

The combination of the two would likely get a close look from antitrust regulators, the Journal said.

Office Depot and Staples were not immediately available for comment outside regular U.S. business hours.

Regulators nixed Staples' attempt to buy Office Depot in 1997, citing antitrust concerns.

The FTC approved Office Depot's $976 million acquisition of OfficeMax in 2013 without the need to close stores, citing increased competition in the office supply industry.

(Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)