Kroger and Albertsons are set for a two-week trial in Delaware Chancery Court over Albertsons’ demand for more than $9.3 billion following the collapse of their planned $24.6 billion merger. Former CEOs David H. McMullen and Vivek Sankaran are scheduled to testify, joining other witnesses associated with each side’s antitrust advisors, according to reports.
The companies are disputing responsibility for why the merger failed. Outlet coverage highlights that Kroger and Albertsons each present competing narratives about the deal’s breakdown and the actions that led to it, with the former CEOs’ testimony expected to address the circumstances surrounding the negotiations and antitrust-related issues. The trial begins Monday and centers on contract and legal claims tied to the failed combination, with Albertsons seeking damages that it says reflect the lost value of the transaction.
