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TERMINATION OF THE MERGER WITH ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC. | 12 Months Ended
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Feb. 01, 2025
TERMINATION OF THE MERGER WITH ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC. |
TERMINATION OF THE MERGER WITH ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC. |
18. | TERMINATION OF THE MERGER WITH ALBERTSONS COMPANIES, INC.
​ As previously disclosed, on October 13, 2022, the Company entered into a merger agreement (the “Merger Agreement”) with Albertsons Companies, Inc. (“Albertsons”) pursuant to which all of the outstanding shares of Albertsons common and preferred stock (on an as converted basis) automatically would have been converted into the right to receive $34.10 per share, subject to certain reductions following a $6.85 per share pre-closing cash dividend that was paid on January 20, 2023 to Albertsons shareholders of record as of October 24, 2022. The adjusted per share cash purchase price was expected to be $27.25. ​ On February 26, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) instituted an administrative proceeding to prohibit the merger. Simultaneously, the FTC (joined by nine States) filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon (the “FTC Federal Litigation”) requesting a preliminary injunction to block the merger. On December 10, 2024, pursuant to a decision of United States District Court for the District of Oregon in the case Federal Trade Commission et al. v. The Kroger Company and Albertsons Companies, Inc. (Case No.: 3:24-cv-00347-AN), the court issued a preliminary injunction enjoining the consummation of the merger. ​ On January 15, 2024, and February 14, 2024, the attorneys general of Washington and Colorado, respectively, filed suit in their respective state courts, also seeking to enjoin the merger. On December 10, 2024, the Washington court also issued a permanent injunction blocking the merger in the Washington case. On March 5, 2025, the Colorado court dismissed the claim seeking to enjoin the merger as moot. A second claim related to an alleged no-poach agreement between Kroger and Albertsons remains pending in Colorado. ​ In addition to these governmental actions, private plaintiffs have filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California also seeking to enjoin the transaction. That case was dismissed with prejudice on February 3, 2025, and plaintiffs have appealed. ​ On December 11, 2024, the Company delivered a notice to Albertsons terminating the merger agreement (the “Termination Notice”). The Termination Notice further notified Albertsons that a prior termination letter sent by Albertsons to Kroger on December 10, 2024 was not an effective termination. In connection with the Termination Notice, Kroger notified Albertsons that Kroger has no obligation to pay the Parent Termination Fee (as defined in the Merger Agreement) because Albertsons failed to perform and comply in all material respects with its covenants under the Merger Agreement. ​ On December 10, 2024, Albertsons sued the Company in the Delaware Court of Chancery for alleged breaches of the Merger Agreement and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Albertsons seeks payment of a $600 termination fee that Albertsons alleges it is owed under the Merger Agreement, as well as additional damages, including expenses paid by Albertsons in connection with the Merger and the lost premium Albertsons alleges is owed to its shareholders, as well as other relief. On March 17, 2025, the Company filed an answer denying the allegations in Albertsons’s complaint, and also filed counterclaims that seek recovery for breaches of the Merger Agreement by Albertsons. ​ In connection with obtaining the requisite regulatory clearance necessary to consummate the Albertsons transaction, the Company and Albertsons entered into a comprehensive divestiture plan with C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC (“C&S”) on September 8, 2023, which was further amended on April 22, 2024, to provide for the divestiture of stores, facilities, agreements, banners, private label brands and certain other rights. The definitive amended and restated agreement was subject to fulfillment of customary closing conditions, including clearance by the FTC. Following the termination of the merger with Albertsons, the Company terminated the amended and restated purchase agreement with C&S. ​ ​ In connection with the merger agreement, on October 13, 2022, the Company entered into a commitment letter with certain lenders pursuant to which the lenders committed to provide a $17,400 senior unsecured bridge term loan facility, which, if entered into, would have matured 364 days after the closing date of the merger. The commitments were intended to be drawn to finance the merger with Albertsons only to the extent the Company did not arrange for alternative financing prior to closing. As alternative financing for the merger was secured, the commitments with respect to the bridge term loan facility under the commitment letter were reduced. The entry into the term loan credit agreement mentioned below reduced the commitments under the Company’s $17,400 bridge facility commitment by $4,750 to $12,650. On April 12, 2024, the Company and the lenders to the bridge facility, at the Company’s request, further reduced the bridge facility commitment by $2,000 to $10,650. During the third quarter of 2024, the Company terminated the bridge term loan facility due to issuing $10,500 of senior notes mentioned below, net proceeds of which were expected to partially fund the cash consideration for the proposed merger and for general corporate purposes. Fees with respect to the bridge term loan facility are included in “Other” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows within “Cash Flows from Financing Activities” and were recognized as operating, general and administrative expense in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations over the commitment period. ​ On November 9, 2022, the Company executed a term loan credit agreement with certain lenders pursuant to which the lenders committed to provide, contingent upon the completion of the merger with Albertsons and certain other customary conditions to funding, (1) senior unsecured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $3,000 maturing on the third anniversary of the merger closing date and (2) senior unsecured term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1,750 maturing on the date that is 18 months after the merger closing date (collectively, the “Term Loan Facilities”). Borrowings under the Term Loan Facilities were to be used to pay a portion of the consideration and other amounts payable in connection with the merger with Albertsons. In 2024, the Company entered into a second amendment to the term loan agreement to, among other things, amend certain covenants applicable thereto. ​ Concurrently with the termination of the Merger Agreement on December 11, 2024, all of the commitments with respect to the Term Loan Facilities were automatically terminated in accordance with the terms thereof. ​ On August 20, 2024, the Company issued $1,000 of its 4.70% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 notes”); $1,000 of its 4.60% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 notes”); $1,400 of its 4.65% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “2029 notes”); $1,300 of its 4.90% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 notes”); $2,200 of its 5.00% Senior Notes due 2034 (the “2034 notes”); $2,100 of its 5.50% Senior Notes due 2054 (the “2054 notes”); and $1,500 of its 5.65% Senior Notes due 2064 (the “2064 notes”) to pay a portion of the cash consideration for its proposed merger with Albertsons and general corporate purposes. The 2026 notes, 2027 notes, 2029 notes and the 2031 notes (collectively, the “SMR Notes”) were subject to a special mandatory redemption if the proposed merger was terminated or did not close by an agreed upon date. In connection with the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company redeemed the SMR Notes on December 18, 2024 at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, December 18, 2024. The 2034 notes, the 2054 notes and the 2064 notes remain outstanding. ​ On August 15, 2024, the Company commenced an exchange offer for any and all outstanding notes (the “ACI Notes”) issued by Albertsons and certain of its subsidiaries for up to approximately $7,442 aggregate principal amount of new senior notes to be issued by the Company and cash. In conjunction with the exchange offers (the “Exchange Offers”), the Company concurrently solicited consents (collectively, the “Consent Solicitations”) to adopt certain proposed amendments (the “Proposed Amendments”) to each of the indentures (each an “ACI Indenture” and, collectively, the “ACI Indentures”) governing the ACI Notes. In connection with the termination of the Merger Agreement, on December 11, 2024, the Company terminated the Exchange Offers and Consent Solicitations. ​

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