07:39 AM EDT, 03/12/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Kroger ( KR ) will face off in court with the Federal Trade Commission over its $24.6 billion bid to acquire smaller rival Albertsons ( ACI ) at a hearing to start Aug. 26, news outlets reported on Monday.

The FTC sued last month to block the acquisition on the grounds that the resulting nationwide supermarket chain of 4,000 stores would result in higher grocery prices. Eight states have joined the commission's lawsuit.

Judge Adrienne Nelson of US District Court in Portland set the date for the first hearing and asked both sides to submit a briefing schedule by Friday.

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