Albertsons Cos. Gets Approval to Pay Out $4B Special Dividend

Temporary restraining order lifted as a result of Supreme Court of Washington decision

1/17/2023

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Albertsons will begin paying out a $4 billion special dividend to its shareholders as soon as possible.

After several months of legal back and forth, Albertsons Cos. has finally gotten the green light to start paying out its previously announced $6.85-per-common-share special dividend. The $4 billion special dividend was originally slated to be paid to shareholders on Nov. 7 of last year, but it was delayed when the attorney general of the state of Washington asked the state supreme court to halt the payment during a regulatory review of the food retailer’s pending merger with The Kroger Co.

During a Jan. 17 session, the supreme court of Washington denied a motion by the state’s attorney general to hear an appeal from the trial court’s denial of its request to stop the company from paying the special dividend. As a result, the temporary restraining order against the special dividend has been lifted.

According to Albertsons, it will immediately begin the process of paying the special dividend, with amounts being distributed as soon as practicable to stockholders of record as of the close of business on Oct. 24, 2022. Meanwhile, the food retailer’s proposed merger with Kroger is continuing through required regulatory review, which includes seeking clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Albertsons saw a solid third quarter, ended Dec. 3, with retail price inflation being the main driver behind its 7.9% year-over-year increase in identical sales and higher fuel sales. CEO Vivek Sankaran also pointed to digital transformation efforts and differentiation in private label offerings as further measures of success.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons operates more than 2,200 retail stores with 1,700-plus pharmacies, 402 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 20 manufacturing facilities. It operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 24 well-known banners, among them Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market. Albertsons is No. 9 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America. Cincinnati-based Kroger is No. 4 on the list.