(Adds Mr Bricolage reaction, shares resumption, Kingfisherclosing share price)
By James Davey and Dominique Vidalon
LONDON/PARIS, March 30 (Reuters) - Kingfisher,Europe's largest home-improvement retailer, has ditched itsplanned purchase of French DIY chain Mr Bricolage, itsaid on Monday, following concerns over the number of storeclosures that would have been required to clear antitrusthurdles.
Doubts had been raised regarding the deal last week afterthe majority of the Mr Bricolage board and its largestshareholder, franchisee group the Association Nationale desPromoteurs de Faites Le Vous-Mene (ANPF), expressedreservations.
The shareholders were unhappy with the proposed sale of 44stores to win antitrust approval, which many felt coulddestabilise the franchise network. Mr Bricolage has 797 storesin France, most run by franchisees.
Mr Bricolage shares, which were suspended on March 23, willresume trading on March 31 on the Paris bourse. They last closedat 14.50 euros on March 20.
In a separate statement on Monday confirming the collapse ofthe 275 million-euro ($298 million) deal, Mr Bricolage expressed confidence it could thrive as a standalone business.
"Mr Bricolage has solid fundamentals enabling it to pursueits growth in an independent manner," the statement said.
Kingfisher had struck a deal last July with the ANPF, whichholds 41.9 percent of Mr Bricolage, and the founding Taburfamily, which holds 26.2 percent, to buy their holdings for 15euros per share.
But the agreement was subject to securing satisfactoryregulatory clearance and carried a provision that it would lapseif antitrust clearance was not obtained by March 31 unless anextension could be agreed by all parties.
Kingfisher said it was considering "all options" after theANPF refused to grant an extension to that deadline.
Shares in Kingfisher, closed 1.95 percent higher on Mondayat 364.8 pence, a fall of 14 percent over the last year.
Kingfisher had wanted Mr Bricolage to beef up its positionin France, the company's most profitable market, where italready trades as Castorama and Brico Depot.
The collapse of the deal comes four months after VeroniqueLaury succeeded Ian Cheshire as Kingfisher's chief executive.Laury will present Kingfisher's 2014-15 results on Tuesday, withthe firm expected to post a 9 percent decline in pretax profit. ($1 = 0.9230 euros) (Editing by Jason Neely and Greg Mahlich)