The Department of Justice is looking into the potential for anti-trust issue in the possible merger between Dairy Farmers of America and Dean Foods, according to the Wall Street Journal, and on Feb. 4, a spokesperson for DFA commented.
“I think the Department of Justice has a job to do and we want to be transparent. We think it’s premature, because there is no deal yet, but Department of Justice is starting to look into it. That’s their job, and of course we will cooperate with them,” Monica Massey, executive vice president and chief of staff for DFA, said.
Dairy Farmers of America is nation’s largest dairy cooperative and Dean Foods filed for bankruptcy in November. At the time of its announced bankruptcy, Dean Foods was in “advanced discussions” with DFA to buy its assets, according to Successful Farming.
If the deal were to go through, the two entities would make up 60 percent of fluid milk sales in the upper Midwest, according to the Wall Street Journal.