Merger of the two biggest retail chains in the USA

Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. signed a USD 24.6bn deal in mid-October. Under the deal, Cincinnati-based Kroger plans to acquire all outstanding shares of Albertsons for about USD 34.10 per share. The deal will join the first- (Kroger) and second-largest (Albertsons) supermarket retailers in the USA, establishing a national company with 4,996 stores, 66 distribution centres, 52 manufacturing plants, 2,015 petrol stations and more than 710,000 employees.