In the event of a potential merger between Kroger and Albertsons, concerns have been raised regarding the substantial payouts that Albertsons’ top executives could receive. As per a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Albertsons’ CEO Vivek Sankaran stands to potentially receive up to $43 million, while the top 10 executives collectively could receive a staggering $146 million if they quit or are laid off following the merger.

One notable aspect of this potential deal is the inclusion of a “good reason” clause, which could lead to Sankaran’s resignation due to a change in control of the company. Despite leaving the company, Sankaran would still be entitled to his full compensation package, along with an additional $43 million payout. The potential financial implications of this merger have attracted attention and scrutiny from various stakeholders.

The approval of the $24.6 billion merger is currently pending a ruling by the Federal Trade Commission. However, the merger has already faced opposition from several groups. Notably, the Teamsters Union, representing approximately 22,000 Kroger or Albertsons employees, expressed their disapproval of the merger back in June, citing unaddressed concerns linked to the potential deal.

Please note that the information provided in this blog post is based on available sources, and neither Albertsons nor Kroger have responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Stay tuned for further updates on this matter as the Federal Trade Commission reaches a decision and additional developments unfold.