Reuters
Mar 26, 2018
'No truth' in report of possible Target-Kroger merger says source
Reuters
Mar 26, 2018
There is no truth to a report of merger talks between retailers Target Corp and Kroger Co, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, tech focused magazine Fast Company reported that the companies are in possible merger talks, sending the shares of both companies higher.
“There is no truth to this rumor,” the source said.
Kroger spokeswoman Kristal Howard said: “We generally don’t comment on rumors or speculation.”
Kroger has a market cap of $20.62 billion and Target $37.12 billion.
Korger shares that were up 13 percent before the bell pared their gains to trade up 2.5 percent at $24. Shares of Target are up 1.5 percent at $70.
In late January, Kroger was reportedly in discussions with Chinese e-commerce and technology company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, including a meeting in which U.S. executives traveled to China.
Spokespeople for Kroger in the United States and Alibaba in China did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In early March, Target reported fourth-quarter profit that missed estimates, gross margins that were at their lowest in 20 years, and gave a disappointing forecast for first-quarter comparable sales.
“2017 was all about putting down a plan, getting the wheels turning in the right direction,” said Chief Executive Officer Brian Cornell. “2018 is about acceleration, leveraging our greatest assets and leaning in to our competitive strength.”
The news come as U.S. e-commerce company Amazon.com Inc expands aggressively into groceries with its acquisition of Whole Foods Market.
Additional reporting by Benjamin Fitzgerald
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