* Delhaize holds 89.56 percent of Greece's Alfa-Beta
* Just short of 90 percent position needed for squeeze-out
(Adds detail, background)
BRUSSELS, July 13 (Reuters) - Belgian supermarket group Delhaize said on Monday its stake in Greek Alfa-Beta Vassilopoulos would rise to 89.56 percent, just short of the 90 percent required for a squeeze-out.
Delhaize, which already owned 65.27 percent of Greece's second largest food retailer, launched a 30.50 euro offer on May 18, which it raised to 34 euros per share at the end of June after scooping up precious few Alfa-Beta shares.
Delhaize had said it intended to proceed with a squeeze-out if it acquired 90 percent of Alfa-Beta voting rights and begin delisting it from the Athens exchange if it reached 95 percent.
Delhaize will still benefit from a greater share of Alfa-Beta profit flowing to the group, but costs related to the Greek subsidiary's listing will remain. "We will look at opportunities that pop up," a Delhaize spokesman said.
Alfa-Beta shares have been broadly stuck at 34 euros since Delhaize increased its offer to that level. Delhaize shares were down 0.4 percent at 50.37 euros.
The offer by Delhaize, which became Alfa-Beta's principal shareholder in 1992, valued the Greek subsidiary at 433 million euros ($602 million). (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Dan Lalor) ($1 = 0.7189 euro)