Albertsons and Kroger insist a merger would help them lower prices and better compete with big rivals such as Walmart, Costco and Amazon.

Kroger is poised to sell investment-grade bonds in at least seven parts to help fund its proposed acquisition of Albertsons as antitrust scrutiny continues to hang over the plan.

A Colorado court scheduled a preliminary injunction hearing on supermarket giant Kroger Co.’s proposed acquisition of rival Albertsons Cos. in mid-August.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and a group of states are poised to sue to block the tie-up between supermarkets Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos., according to people familiar with the plans.

Colorado sued to block Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. in court Feb. 14, becoming the second state to challenge the deal.

Stellantis NV is focused on executing its business plans in key markets including Italy and isn’t considering a plan to merge with other manufacturers, Chairman John Elkann said.

Forward Air on Jan. 25 announced the completion of its long-pending acquisition of Omni Logistics, with both companies’ leaders touting the benefits of the merger.

Forward Air Corp. and Omni Logistics have settled litigation surrounding a planned merger that allows a deal to proceed under amended terms, the companies announced Jan. 22.

Antitrust agencies have finalized an overhaul of rules the government uses to determine whether deals violate competition law to extend a crackdown on illegal mergers and acquisitions.

Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. are bracing for a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit over their $24.6 billion tie-up as soon as January as opposition builds against the supermarket megadeal.