Danone nears deal to buy WhiteWave Foods for about US$10b

[PARIS] The world's biggest yoghurt maker Danone SA said it is nearing an agreement to buy organic foods producer WhiteWave Foods Co in a deal that is likely to value the U.S. company at about US$10 billion, the Financial Times reported.

The deal would be Danone's largest in a decade and the first major transaction by Emmanuel Faber, the company veteran who took over as chief executive in late 2014, the FT said, citing two people who informed about the talks. A deal may be announced as early as Thursday, according to the people.

Both Danone and WhiteWave Foods were not immediately available for a comment outside regular business hours.

REUTERS