From Yahoo Finance: 2025-03-25 13:35:00

Kroger denies Albertsons’ claim that it didn’t do enough for regulatory approval of their planned merger. In court papers, Kroger accuses Albertsons of secretly working with C&S Wholesalers to force more store divestments. Kroger also claims Albertsons planned to sue if the deal fell apart, seeking to avoid a $600 million termination fee and legal fees.

Kroger and Albertsons proposed the merger in 2022 to compete with Walmart and Costco. The FTC and two states sued to block the merger, citing potential price increases and lowered wages. Judges in Washington and Oregon halted the merger in December, with Kroger still hoping for approval under the Trump administration.

Despite lower court rulings, Kroger believed the merger could proceed. Albertsons filed a lawsuit the day after the rulings, alleging Kroger didn’t divest enough stores to satisfy regulators. Albertsons claimed Kroger should have sought other buyers besides C&S Wholesalers.



Read more at Yahoo Finance: Kroger blames Albertsons for merger’s demise in new court filings