Amazon is very close to completing its $13.7bn (£10.7bn) acquisition of supermarket chain Whole Foods Market after clearing two of the biggest hurdles in its way.

The first of these hurdles was successfully navigated when Whole Foods shareholders voted to approve the deal, two months after the initial agreement was made.

In addition, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said it will not pursue an investigation into the merger because it doesn’t think the proposed acquisition will have a negative effect on competition.

“The FTC conducted an investigation of this proposed acquisition to determine whether it substantially lessened competition under Section 7 of the Clayton Act, or constituted an unfair method of competition under Section 5 of the FTC Act,” said Bruce Hoffman, acting director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “Based on our investigation we have decided not to pursue this matter further. Of course, the FTC always has the ability to investigate anticompetitive conduct should such action be warranted.”

The acquisition, which would represent the biggest retail deal of 2017, is expected to close by the end of the year, following other customary closing conditions. The deal will cost Amazon $42 per share.