Kroger, Albertsons Dodge Bid to Halt $24.6 Billion Merger

Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. dodged a bid from consumers for a preliminary injunction to halt the grocers’ $24.6 billion merger after a federal judge ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing and failed to explain how the deal would affect them personally.

“Although the proposed merger may be concerning from an antitrust perspective, the plaintiffs have not come close to providing the information necessary to determine whether concern is truly warranted.” Judge Vince Chhabria of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said in a Wednesday ruling. “For now, the failure to allege standing is reason enough ...