Class A shares closed at 20 1/2 Wednesday, up 1 3/8; B shares closed at 21 15/16, up 1 1/4.

The board of directors of Delhaize “The Lion” Group authorized the purchase of Delhaize America stock.

In a written release, the company said, “The purchase of additional Delhaize America shares is a particularly attractive value for the Delhaize ‘The Lion’ Group because of the continued outstanding operational performance of Delhaize America.

“By this decision the Delhaize ‘The Lion’ Group underlines its strong commitment to the long-term strategy of Delhaize America.”

Delhaize did not put a time limit on the buy-back, and corporate spokeswoman Chris Ahearn said the company had not specified whether the company will buy A or B stock.

Delhaize already owns more than 52 percent of the B stock, which is the company’s voting stock.

Delhaize America’s class B stock hit a 52-week low of 18 3/4 on Oct. 26 and climbed to a high of 37 3/4 Aug. 2. Class A stock has fluctuated from 17 1/4 to 38 1/4.

In September, shareholders approved forming a holding company to be called Delhaize America which would subsume Food Lion stores, Kash n’ Karry stores, Risk Management Services and FLFood Lion, Inc.

The change included a one-for-three reverse stock split of Food Lion’s outstanding shares of class A and B common stock. They were converted into Delhaize America shares. This means the company exchanged one share of Delhaize America stock for three shares of Food Lion stock.

At the same time, the company jumped from the NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange.

Delhaize is buying the Hannaford stores for $3.6 million, expanding the company’s holdings into the Northeastern market.

In response to a question at the shareholders’ meeting in September, Bill McCanless, president and CEO of Delhaize America, said the company would not be aggressive and buy back more shares until they had time to “digest” the Hannaford acquisition.