Private equity firms tried to shoplift $4 billion from Albertsons before selling it to Kroger, until a judge stopped them — for now

In Slate,  Moe Tkackik has an excellent analysis if the proposed Albertsons/Kroger merger, what he calls our “cash-extractive economy.” A judge has paused the deal, which would divert $4 billion from the companies to the private equity partners, [T]he current norm [is] that views every realm of commercial activity as first and foremost a vehicle…