Two rulings — in federal and state courts — make it increasingly likely that Kroger might abandon its $24.6 billion plan to buy Albertsons. The merger aimed to combine two of America's largest supermarket chains.
The Federal Trade Commission and 9 states want to stop the deal that would combine the country's two largest grocery store chains. The companies say they have to merge to compete with Walmart.
America's two largest supermarket chains have struck a $25 billion deal to combine. Now the FTC is about to decide whether it will block or allow it, and under what conditions.
The $25-billion deal is likely to draw intense scrutiny from federal regulators and critics as it would form a new supermarket colossus at a time of soaring food costs.
