AT (202) 514-2007WWW.USDOJ.GOV
TDD (202) 514-1888
SENSIENT RESTRUCTURES SALE OF ITS RED STAR YEAST DIVISION TO
ADDRESS JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S ANTITRUST CONCERNS Competition in Fresh Yeast Market Will Remain
Washington, D.C. -- The Department of Justice today announced that Sensient Technologies Corporation has agreed to restructure its plans to sell its Red Star Yeast Division to Lesaffre et Cie., by abandoning its sale of its equity interest in Minn-Dak Yeast Company, in order to resolve the Department's antitrust concerns. The Department said that the deal as originally proposed would have reduced the number of fresh yeast producers in the United States from four to three, resulting in higher prices for customers--large commercial bakeries that produce breads, rolls, and other baked goods.
Under the terms of the restructured transaction, Sensient will retain its equity interest in Minn-Dak, a yeast manufacturing facility jointly owned by Sensient and a farmers' cooperative that supplied fresh yeast to Red Star. Sensient will sell the remainder of its Red Star Yeast Division to Lesaffre. The restructured transaction will ensure that customers will continue to have four independent sources of supply for fresh yeast.
Sensient, a Wisconsin corporation, is headquartered in Milwaukee. It is a leading supplier of colors, flavors and fragrances. Sensient reported revenues of more than $920 million in 1999.
Lesaffre, a French corporation, is a privately-held firm based in Lille, France. It is the world's largest yeast producer.
Minn-Dak Yeast Company is a yeast producer, whose corporate offices and manufacturing facility are in Wahpeton, South Dakota. Sales and marketing operations are located in Milwaukee. Minn-Dak is a private joint venture. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative owns 80 percent of its shares and Sensient owns the remaining 20 percent. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, also based in Wahpeton, is a sugar beet growers cooperative that processes beets into sugar and molasses.
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