Written by AP Business Writer DEE-ANN DURBIN
The proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons has been temporarily put on hold 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. 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.
The proposed merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons has been temporarily put on hold 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.
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