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MERGER AGREEMENT
 6 Months Ended
Sep. 07, 2024
Business Combination, Asset Acquisition, and Joint Venture Formation [Abstract]  
MERGER AGREEMENT MERGER AGREEMENT
On October 13, 2022, the Company, The Kroger Co. ("Parent") and Kettle Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"), with the Company surviving the Merger as the surviving corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each share of Class A common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time"), shall be converted automatically at the Effective Time into the right to receive from Parent $34.10 per share in cash, without interest. The $34.10 per share consideration to be paid by Parent would be reduced by the special cash dividend of $6.85 per share of Class A common stock (the "Special Dividend"), which was declared on October 13, 2022 and paid on January 20, 2023.

At the Effective Time, each outstanding equity award denominated in shares of Class A common stock will be converted into a corresponding award with respect to shares of Parent common stock (the "Converted Awards"). The Converted Awards will remain outstanding and subject to the same terms and conditions (including vesting and
forfeiture terms) as were applied to the corresponding Company equity award immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided that any Company equity award with a performance-based vesting condition will have such vesting condition deemed satisfied at (i) the greater of target performance and actual performance (for such awards subject to an open performance period at the Effective Time) and (ii) target performance (for such awards subject to a performance period that begins after the Effective Time). For purposes of the conversion described above, the number of shares of Parent common stock subject to a Converted Award will be based upon the number of shares of Class A common stock subject to such Company equity award immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by an exchange ratio equal to (i) $34.10 less the Special Dividend, divided by (ii) the average closing price of shares of Parent common stock for five trading days preceding the Closing.

In connection with obtaining the requisite regulatory clearance necessary to consummate the Merger, the Company and Parent expect to make divestitures of stores owned by the Company and Parent to a third party. As described in the Merger Agreement and subject to the outcome of the divestiture process and negotiations with applicable government authorities, the Company was prepared to establish a Company subsidiary ("SpinCo") as part of this process. If utilized, the common stock or interests in SpinCo would be distributed to Company stockholders no later than the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") and SpinCo would operate as a standalone public company, or the equity of SpinCo would be contributed to a trust for later distribution to Company stockholders. As described in more detail below, on September 8, 2023, the Company and Kroger announced that they entered into a comprehensive divestiture plan with C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC ("C&S"). As a result of the comprehensive divestiture plan announced with C&S, Kroger has exercised its right under the Merger Agreement to sell what would have been the SpinCo business to C&S. Consequently, the creation of SpinCo and spin-off previously contemplated by the Company and Kroger is no longer a requirement under the Merger Agreement and will no longer be pursued by the Company and Kroger.

On September 8, 2023, the Company and Kroger announced that the parties had entered into a definitive agreement, dated September 8, 2023, with C&S for the sale of select stores, banners, distribution centers, offices and private label brands to C&S. On April 22, 2024, the Company and Kroger announced they had amended the definitive agreement with C&S. The amended package modifies and builds on the initial divestiture package (collectively, the "Divestiture Assets"). The Divestiture Assets will be divested by Kroger following the Closing. The definitive agreement has customary representations and warranties and covenants of a transaction of its type. The divestiture to C&S is subject to fulfillment of customary closing conditions, including clearance by the United States Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") and the completion of the proposed Merger.

In accordance with the Merger Agreement, the Company has extended the original outside date of January 13, 2024 to October 9, 2024 (the "Outside Date"). The Parent will be obligated to pay a termination fee of $600 million to the Company if the Merger Agreement is terminated by either party in connection with the occurrence of the Outside Date, and, at the time of such termination, all closing conditions other than regulatory approval have been satisfied. As of the time of filing this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, neither the Company nor Parent has provided a notice of termination with respect to the Merger Agreement.

On February 26, 2024, the FTC instituted an administrative proceeding to prohibit the Merger. On the same day, the FTC (joined by nine states) filed suit in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, requesting a preliminary injunction to enjoin the Merger (the "Federal Action"). On January 15, 2024 and February 14, 2024, the attorneys general of States of Washington and Colorado, respectively, filed suit in their respective state courts, also seeking to enjoin the Merger. In the Federal Action, the Company and Parent have stipulated to a temporary restraining order that prevents the Merger from closing until 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the fifth business day after the court rules on the FTC's motion for a preliminary injunction or until after the date set by the court, whichever is later. The FTC administrative proceeding and the preliminary injunction hearing in the Federal Action have concluded and the Company awaits a decision. A trial on the State of Washington's request for a permanent injunction has concluded and the Company awaits a decision. In conjunction with the State of Washington's suit, the Company and Parent have committed that they will not close the Merger until five days after that court rules (so
long as that ruling occurs by a certain date). In the Colorado case, the trial on the permanent injunction is ongoing. In addition to these regulatory actions, private plaintiffs have filed suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California also seeking to enjoin the Merger. That case is stayed pending resolution of the FTC's motion for a preliminary injunction.