TIMELINE-Kroger, Albertsons $25 billion merger fraught with roadblocks

Feb 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Monday it was suing to block Kroger's near $25 billion purchase of rival grocer Albertsons as it would eliminate "fierce competition." The deal, which was announced in October 2022, has come under scrutiny from various lawmakers and consumer groups who have noted that the merger could drive up prices in the grocery sector making it difficult for customers during a highly inflationary period. Here is a timeline of the major events that unfolded since the announcement of the deal: Date Events Oct. 14, Kroger says it will acquire rival Albertsons in 2022 a near $25 billion deal. The companies are willing to divest some stores to ease anti-trust concerns Oct. 18, U.S. senators who scrutinize antitrust issues 2022 express "serious concerns" about the merger and say they would hold a hearing in November Nov. 2, The attorneys general of Washington D.C., 2022 California and Illinois file a lawsuit in a federal court seeking to block Albertsons' $4 billion dividend payout to shareholders before the closing of the merger Nov. 4, A state court in Washington temporarily blocks 2022 Albertsons from paying a $4 billion dividend to shareholders Nov. 8, A U.S. federal court denies requests to 2022 temporarily block Albertsons dividend payment. However, the payment remains on hold due to the block from a state court in Washington Nov. 10, A state court in Washington to extend a 2022 temporary block that has prevented Albertsons from paying the dividend. A hearing for Nov. 17 was set to further consider whether to prolong the existing order Nov. 16, The Washington state court postpones a scheduled 2022 case hearing to Dec. 9 Nov. 29, Skeptical lawmakers from across the political 2022 spectrum question executives at Kroger and Albertsons amid concerns the tie-up could boost already high food prices Dec. 6, Kroger receives a request for additional 2022 information from the FTC as part of the regulatory review process Dec. 10, Albertsons says Washington State Court denied a 2022 request of preliminary injunction by the state's Attorney General to prevent the company from paying the special dividend and has extended the existing temporary restraining order until Dec. 19 Dec. 16, Washington's state supreme court blocks 2022 Albertsons from paying a special dividend ahead of its acquisition by Kroger and extends a block put in place by a lower court Dec. 21, The Washington Supreme Court to review on Feb. 9 2022 the state attorney general's appeal to permanently stop the company's blocked $4 billion special dividend Jan. 17, Washington state's highest court allows 2023 Albertsons to pay the $4 billion dividend Jan. 19, Albertsons announces special dividend to be paid 2023 on Jan. 20 Aug. 16, Officials from seven U.S. states write to U.S. 2023 antitrust enforcers to ask for the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger to be stopped Sept. 08, Kroger says it would sell over 400 grocery 2023 stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers in an effort to get regulatory approval and says it may need C&S to buy up to an additional 237 stores in certain geographies to get regulatory nod Oct. 12, California Attorney General Rob Bonta says his 2023 office was concerned about the deal and may sue to stop it Dec. 12, Six U.S. lawmakers write to FTC expressing their 2023 opposition to the merger Jan. 15, Kroger and Albertsons say they plan to close the 2024 deal in the first half of Kroger's fiscal 2024 instead of early 2024 Jan. 16, Washington state's attorney general has sued to 2024 block the deal Feb. 14, Colorado's attorney general files a lawsuit 2024 seeking to block the deal Feb. 20, FTC and a group of states could sue as soon as 2024 next week to block the deal, Bloomberg News reports Feb. 26, FTC files an anti-trust lawsuit to block the 2024 deal (Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)