US: DOJ green lights $12.5B Danone deal with divestitures

French food group Danone has won US antitrust approval to buy US organic food producer WhiteWave Foods, the Justice Department said on Monday.

To win approval for the $10.4 billion deal, Danone agreed to sell its leading US organic yoghurt business Stonyfield Farms, the department said.

In July, the French company announced plans to buy WhiteWave in its largest acquisition since 2007, a move it said would double the size of its US business.

Danone’s brands include Dannon, Evian, Bonafont and the medical nutrition brand Nutricia. The purchase of WhiteWave, Danone’s largest acquisition since 2007, will help it woo affluent consumers who buy WhiteWave’s health food offerings such as Silk almond milk and Earthbound Farm organic salad.

Full Content: Times Union

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