, Columnist
WhiteWave Really Milked Danone
The French dairy giant's s takeover of the Silk almond milk owner looks even more expensive now.
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For investors in the high-flying food stock WhiteWave Foods Co., it's a good thing that its sale to French dairy giant Danone SA looks set to cross the finish line soon.
The companies are in final conversations with the U.S. Department of Justice about Danone's $12.5 billion takeover of WhiteWave, and the deal is on track to close this month, a Danone executive said at a conference Wednesday. WhiteWave, whose products include Silk almond milk and Earthbound Farm organic salad, surged to $55.60 a share following the remarks. That's only about 1 percent below the all-cash purchase price, signaling this is probably a done deal.