Kroger to acquire Albertsons for $24.6B

Kroger and Albertsons have entered into a definitive agreement under which the companies will merge to establish a national footprint and unite around Kroger's Purpose to Feed the Human Spirit.

"Through a family of well-known and trusted supermarket banners, this combination will expand customer reach and improve proximity to deliver fresh and affordable food to approximately 85 million households with a premier omnichannel experience," Kroger said. 

Under the terms of the merger agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company, Kroger will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Albertsons common and preferred stock (on an as converted basis) for an estimated total consideration of $34.10 per share, implying a total enterprise value of approximately $24.6 billion, including the assumption of approximately $4.7 billion of Albertsons' net debt. Subject to the outcome of a store divestiture process, the cash component of the $34.10 per share consideration may be reduced by the per-share value of a newly created standalone public company ("SpinCo") that Albertsons is prepared to spin off at closing in conjunction with the regulatory clearance process. As part of the transaction, Albertsons will pay a special cash dividend of up to $4 billion to its shareholders. The cash component of the $34.10 per share consideration will be reduced by the per share amount of the special cash dividend, which is expected to be approximately $6.85 per share. This cash dividend will be payable on Nov. 7, 2022, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Oct. 24, 2022.

Together, Albertsons and Kroger currently employ more than 710,000 associates and operate a total of 4,996 stores, 66 distribution centers, 52 manufacturing plants, 3,972 pharmacies and 2,015 fuel centers. The combination creates a new ecosystem across 48 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger said that the combined company will drive profitable growth and sustainable value for all stakeholders.

Kroger said that it has a long track record of lowering prices, improving the customer experience and investing in its associates and communities. Consistent with prior transactions, Kroger said that it plans to invest in lower prices for customers and expects to reinvest approximately half a billion dollars of cost savings from synergies to reduce prices for customers. An incremental $1.3 billion also will be invested into Albertsons Cos. stores to enhance the customer experience. Kroger shared that it also will build on its recent investments in associate wages, training and benefits. Kroger has invested an incremental $1.2 billion in associate compensation and benefits since 2018. The combined company expects to invest $1 billion to continue raising associate wages and comprehensive benefits after the close.

"We are bringing together two purpose-driven organizations to deliver superior value to customers, associates, communities and shareholders," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger chairman and CEO, who will continue serving as chairman and CEO of the combined company. "Albertsons Cos. brings a complementary footprint and operates in several parts of the country with very few or no Kroger stores. This merger advances our commitment to build a more equitable and sustainable food system by expanding our footprint into new geographies to serve more of America with fresh and affordable food and accelerates our position as a more compelling alternative to larger and non-union competitors. As a combined entity, we will be better positioned to advance Kroger's successful go-to-market strategy by providing an incredible seamless shopping experience, expanding Our Brands portfolio, and delivering personalized value and savings."

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McMullen added, "This transaction is a testament to the passion and commitment of both Albertsons and Kroger associates. Supporting and investing in our associates is foundational to both of our organizations and will continue to be a critical pillar of our success. Kroger has a track record of successful integrations that combine the strengths of each company while maintaining and enhancing each organizations' distinctive banners and storied histories."

"We have been on a transformational journey to evolve Albertsons into a modern and efficient omnichannel food and drug retailer focused on building deep and lasting relationships with our customers and communities. I am proud of what our 290,000 associates have accomplished, delivering top-tier performance while furthering our purpose to bring people together around the joys of food and to inspire well-being. Today's announcement is a testament to their success," said Vivek Sankaran, CEO of Albertsons.

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"Today's announcement marks the successful outcome of the board-led review of strategic alternatives Albertsons announced in February," said Chan Galbato, co-chair of the Albertsons board of directors and CEO of Cerberus Operations. "This transaction with Kroger provides substantial value to shareholders and exciting opportunities for associates to be part of a combined organization with the ability to better support the lives and health of millions of Americans."

The transaction is expected to advance Kroger's strategy of Leading with Fresh, Accelerating with Digital and will enable the combined company to build on Kroger's go-to-market strategy that includes Fresh, Our Brands, Personalization and Seamless. Kroger looks forward to bringing the best of Albertsons' own omnichannel capabilities to more customers to improve the shopping experience, the company said. 

Together, Kroger and Albertsons will have an expanded network of stores and distribution centers, as well as a broader supplier base. Utilizing Kroger's End-to-End Fresh initiative across a broader network will enable the combined company to optimize its supply chain to deliver the freshest products from field to table to more customers more quickly. By bringing together Kroger's Fresh for Everyone strategy and Albertsons' Customers for Life strategy, the combined company will expand its portfolio of fresh products, extend shelf lives and accelerate the penetration of its Fresh portfolio, Kroger said.

At a time when people are increasingly shopping for groceries and eating at home, Kroger and Albertsons will be better positioned to relieve the inflationary pressures facing shoppers with a combined portfolio of approximately 34,000 total private label products across premium, natural and organic and opening price point brands. Kroger and Albertsons have strong track records of providing quality products at great value. The combined company's innovation capabilities, increased manufacturing footprint and expanded national reach will drive improved quality and efficiency allowing its Our Brands portfolio to accelerate growth and profitability while remaining affordable and accessible to customers, the company said. 

[Read more: Kroger reports strong Q2 results, raises full-year guidance]

The combined company will be able to generate stronger customer insights and offer improved tailor-made experiences. With a customer base of approximately 85 million households, the combined company will have one of the most comprehensive first-party data repositories in the food and retail space. It will be able to use Kroger's leading data science capabilities to develop an even more effective retail loyalty program. The combined company will provide an unmatched customer experience by offering more relevant recommendations and promotions to save customers time and money. More customers will benefit from Kroger's data analytics by receiving personalized recommendations for healthier alternatives to products customers love as part of Kroger's Food as Medicine initiative, Kroger said.

Kroger also noted that the combined company will benefit from shared operational learnings across both large and small store formats, a more extensive and efficient distribution network of customer fulfillment facilities and capabilities and an expanded pickup footprint. By bringing together Kroger and Albertsons' technology, infrastructure, and digital and delivery service providers into a single seamless ecosystem, the combined company will be able to offer customers a more personalized and convenient omnichannel experience including in-store shopping, enhanced pickup capabilities, faster delivery times and more capabilities to serve the customer anything, anytime, anywhere with zero compromises on quality, selection and affordability.

Both companies have ambitious sustainability programs and a range of initiatives focused on responsible corporate stewardship, including those focused on increasing workforce diversity and fighting food insecurity. By joining forces, the combined company will be better positioned to advance a comprehensive ESG strategy focused on Kroger and Albertsons' shared mission to support the communities they serve and pursue a more sustainable future. The addition of Albertsons' sustainability program and resources will accelerate progress on Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan to create a more equitable and sustainable food system.

The addition of Albertsons' portfolio expands Kroger's core supermarket, fuel, and pharmacy businesses, bolstering the combined company's ability to drive additional traffic into stores and digital channels. The increase in customer traffic and data will in turn power the combined company's higher-growth, higher-margin alternative profit businesses to support continued reinvestment in the business. On a combined basis, the companies delivered approximately $210 billion in revenue, $3.3 billion in net earnings, and $11.6 billion of adjusted EBITDA in fiscal year 20211.

The combined company will be able to reach an expanded national audience of approximately 85 million households nationwide, fueling growth in alternative profit businesses such as retail media, Kroger personal finance and customer insights. With an expanded footprint and the addition of the recently launched Albertsons Media Collective, Kroger will enhance its services to media clients and provide more targeted sophisticated solutions. The combined capabilities will accelerate the growth of Kroger's higher-margin revenue streams by extending the portfolio of solutions and accelerating their respective growth, Kroger said.

Additionally, Kroger said that the combined company expects to achieve approximately $1 billion of annual run-rate synergies net of divestitures within the first four years of combined operations with approximately 50% being achieved within the first two years following close. The companies expect to achieve synergies largely through improved sourcing, optimization of manufacturing and distribution networks and technology investment amplification opportunities.

The company said the combination creates a more resilient business model, with a devoted customer base and strong cash flows. Kroger expects the transaction to be accretive to earnings in the first year following close, and double digit accretive to earnings by year four, excluding one-time costs. Consistent with its long-term commitment to returning cash to shareholders, Kroger intends to continue paying its quarterly dividend and expects to raise its dividend over time, subject to Board approval, while managing free cash flow to reduce leverage.

Kroger and Albertsons expect to make store divestitures. As described in the merger agreement and subject to the outcome of the divestiture process, Albertsons Cos. is prepared to establish an Albertsons subsidiary (SpinCo). SpinCo would be spun-off to Albertsons shareholders immediately prior to merger closing and operate as a standalone public company. Kroger and Albertsons have agreed to work together to determine which stores would comprise SpinCo, as well as the pro forma capitalization of SpinCo. The establishment of SpinCo, which is estimated to comprise between 100 and 375 stores, would create a new, agile competitor with quality stores, experienced management, operational flexibility a strong balance sheet, and focused allocation of capital and resources to provide customers with continued value and quality service and associates with ongoing compelling career opportunities.

Following the close of the transaction, Rodney McMullen will continue to serve as chairman and CEO and Gary Millerchip will continue to serve as chief financial officer of the combined company.

The transaction is expected to close in early 2024.