AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods here was expected to complete its tender offer for Wild Oats’ stock today after a three-judge panel in Washington last week declined to delay the merger. Stock in Wild Oats shot up within pennies of the deal price of $18.50 per share on Friday, while Whole Foods’ stock also traded up. Whole Foods had agreed to wait until today to complete the merger while the Federal Trade Commission sought a stay to give it time to file an appeal in its antitrust case against the companies. The stay was not granted, and the FTC was not expected pursue the case any further. “We are pleased to have cleared what we expect to be our last legal hurdle,” said John Mackey, chairman and chief executive officer, Whole Foods, in a prepared statement. “We look forward to closing this merger and believe the synergies gained from this combination will create long-term value for our customers, vendors and shareholders as well as exciting opportunities for our new and existing team members.”
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