The governors of Massachusetts and New Hampshire announced on Friday that an agreement has paved a way to sell Market Basket to Arthur T. Demoulas and restore his control of the 71-store supermarket chain.

There is sheer optimism among all parties over the chances of the deal going through this weekend, said Governors Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire in a statement. The deal would involve sales of 50.5% of the company to Demoulas and bring the position of CEO back to him. Employees also protested to support him and wanted to reinstate him as the CEO.

Employees faced threats of losing jobs last week after Market Basket's co-chief executives warned them to get back to work by August 15. "In briefings today, all parties report that they are optimistic that an agreement will be reached to sell the company to Arthur T. Demoulas and to restore him to operating authority on an interim basis until the sale closes", Patrick and Hassan said in their statement.

A meeting was organized last Sunday in Springfield between both governors and Demoulas, his rival and cousin Arthur S. Demoulas, Keith O. Cowan, chairman of the Demoulas Super Markets board of directors, and an attorney representing Arthur S.'s family. The meeting was aimed at forcing the sides to take a resolution.

Arthur T. Demoulas is expecting that this purchase will finalize immediately. He made his final bid on Thursday and got to know on Friday evening about the statements of the governors.

His spokeswoman said that terms of the bids are extremely favorable to the sellers. There is no obstacle to jeopardize the chances of the deal going through this weekend as the time has finally come to complete this deal and once again start running Market Basket.