DALLAS, July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Dean Foods (NYSE: DF) today announced the closing of the public offering of 34.4 million shares of Class A common stock of The WhiteWave Foods Company ("WhiteWave"), including approximately 4.5 million shares sold pursuant to the underwriters' over-allotment option. Following the closing of the offering, Dean Foods no longer holds any shares of WhiteWave common stock. The completion of the offering marks the successful tax-free disposition of the remaining ownership interests held by Dean Foods following the spin-off of a portion of the ownership interests in WhiteWave that occurred in May 2013. The offering was structured as a tax-free transaction and resulted in approximately $589 million of net proceeds to Dean Foods.
"The successful completion of this transaction marks the final step in the strategic realignment of Dean Foods and the complete separation of WhiteWave," said Gregg Tanner, Dean Foods Chief Executive Officer. "We are gratified by the significant stockholder value that has been unlocked over the past year. The proceeds from this transaction significantly strengthen our financial position as we look to execute our strategy going forward, allowing us to invest in the acceleration of our productivity efforts while evaluating options for utilizing our future free cash flow to deliver value to stockholders."
Prior to the closing of the offering, Dean Foods exchanged its shares of WhiteWave Class A common stock that were sold in the offering for indebtedness of Dean Foods that was held by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Merrill Lynch, who were two of the underwriters in the offering. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Merrill Lynch then sold these shares of Class A common stock to the underwriters for the offering. Dean Foods retired all of the debt that was exchanged in the transaction. More information can be found in Dean Foods' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ABOUT DEAN FOODS
Dean Foods® is a leading food and beverage company in the United States and is the nation's largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fluid milk. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the Dean Foods portfolio includes TruMoo®, the leading national flavored milk brand, along with well-known regional dairy brands such as Alta Dena®, Berkeley Farms®, Country Fresh®, Dean's®, Garelick Farms®, LAND O LAKES® milk and cultured products*, Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms®, Mayfield®, McArthur®, Meadow Gold®, Oak Farms®, Pet®, T.G. Lee®, Tuscan® and more. In all, Dean Foods has more than 50 local and regional dairy brands and private labels. Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream, cultured products, juices, teas, and bottled water. Nearly 19,000 employees across the country work every day to make Dean Foods the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting dairy products at every occasion. For more information about Dean Foods and its brands, visit www.deanfoods.com.
*The LAND O LAKES brand is owned by Land O'Lakes, Inc. and is used by license.
CONTACT: Corporate Communications, Liliana Esposito, +1 214-721-7766; or Investor Relations, Barry Sievert, +1-214-303-3438
SOURCE Dean Foods