The proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge, which may potentially ruin the agreement.
The decision was made Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson following a three-week hearing in Portland, Oregon.
In 2022, Kroger and Albertsons planned the biggest grocery chain merger in American history. However, the Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit earlier this year, requesting that Nelson halt the $24.6 billion transaction until an internal FTC administrative court could weigh the merger’s ramifications.
Nelson consented to put the merger on hold.
Given the difficulty in disentangling an early merger, she noted in her conclusion that any costs the defendants suffer as a result of the injunction do not outweigh the substantial public interest in the enforcement of antitrust law.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!