SRZ Advises Albertsons Companies on Acquisition of United Supermarkets

SRZ advised supermarket operator Albertsons Companies on its all-cash acquisition of Texas-based United Supermarkets LLC, which operates 50 retail stores under the United Supermarkets, Market Street and Amigos brands. The deal, announced on Sept. 11, 2013, expands the Idaho-based company’s operations to approximately 650 stores and 11 distribution centers in 16 states. In the first quarter of 2013, SRZ represented Cerberus Capital Management LP, as the lead investor in a consortium, in the consortium’s $3.3 billion acquisition from SUPERVALU INC. of five grocery stores operating under multiple banners, including Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, and Shaw’s. Immediately following this transaction, the acquired Albertsons-banner stores were then sold to Albertsons Companies, reuniting the brand under common ownership for the first time since 2006. The SRZ team representing Albertsons Companies on the United Supermarkets transaction included mergers & acquisitions partners Stuart D. Freedman and Robert B. Loper, finance partner Ronald B. Risdon, antitrust and litigation partner Michael E. Swartz, and tax partners Alan S. Waldenberg and Noah D. Beck.