Kroger CEO defends potential Albertsons merger in federal court testimony: "We will begin lowering prices"
CBSN
The chief executive officer of Kroger insisted Wednesday that merging with rival Albertsons would allow the two supermarket companies to lower prices and more effectively compete with retail giants like Walmart and Amazon.
Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen argued in favor of what would be the largest grocery chain merger in U.S. history while testifying during a federal court hearing in Oregon on the U.S. government's request for a preliminary injunction that would block the $24.6 billion deal.
"The day that we merge is the day that we will begin lowering prices," McMullen said while under questioning by a lawyer representing his company.
The Fearless Fund, a venture capital firm that invests in supporting women of color entrepreneurs, has agreed to shut down its grant program for Black women as part of a settlement with the conservative group American Alliance for Equal Rights. On Wednesday, both sides reached a settlement, agreeing to dismiss the case and end the program. This comes after a federal appeals court ruling in June ordered the program to be suspended.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that a decision by the U.S. or its NATO allies to allow Ukraine to use Western-supplied long-range missiles to hit targets deep inside Russia would be viewed as NATO's direct participation in the war, which he said would significantly change "the very nature of the conflict."