POST Online Media Lite Edition



 

U.S. Justice Department files lawsuit to stop sugar merger

Christian Fernsby |
The Department of Justice filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to stop United States Sugar Corporation (U.S. Sugar) from acquiring its rival, Imperial Sugar Company.

Article continues below




The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, alleges that the transaction would leave an overwhelming majority of refined sugar sales across the Southeast in the hands of only two producers.

As a result, American businesses and consumers would pay more for refined sugar, a significant input for many foods and beverages.

According to the department’s complaint, U.S. Sugar operates a large sugar refinery in Florida, and sells all of its refined sugar through United Sugars Corporation (United Sugars), a marketing cooperative owned by U.S. Sugar and three other refined sugar producers.

Imperial Sugar operates its own sugar refinery in Georgia, and sells its refined sugar directly to customers. American Sugar Refining, known more commonly by its “Domino” brand name, is the other producer supplying a significant share of refined sugar in the southeastern United States.

The complaint further alleges that United Sugars and Imperial Sugar compete head to head to supply refined sugar to customers across the Southeast in states stretching from Mississippi to Delaware. This competition has resulted in lower prices, better quality products and more reliable service for customers across the region.

If U.S. Sugar is permitted to acquire Imperial Sugar, Imperial’s production would be folded into the United Sugars cooperative, leaving two significant sugar producers in the region.

As alleged in the complaint, because transportation costs make up a significant portion of the total price customers pay for refined sugar, the nearest sugar producers tend to be a customer’s best competitive options.

The complaint alleges that U.S. Sugar’s proposed acquisition of Imperial Sugar will further consolidate an already concentrated market for refined sugar.

If the transaction is allowed to proceed, United Sugars and Domino would control the vast majority of refined sugar sales in the region, enhancing the likelihood going forward that they will coordinate with each other and refrain from competing aggressively.


What to read next

Valio first to document importance of ash protein ratio in reduced sugar chocolate
Zambia's main sugar producer to end EU exports
Tiffany files lawsuit against LVMH to enforce merger agreement

U.S.: Below normal temperatures in south and east, west will experience above normal temperatures

 
Under an intense surge of arctic air, Friday morning will begin with the coldest temperatures so far this season across much of the central and eastern U.S. with blustery conditions and a piercing wind chill.
 
 

Latest

U.S. rigs increased nicely
New York: More than $15.5 million awarded through Office of Strategic Workforce Development
Amgen will expand in North Carolina, create 370 jobs
NexGen Cabinets selects North Carolina for East Coast operation

NEWS

UK: Sizewell A delivers groundbreaking turbine hall milestone

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson assassinated in New York
U.S.: Arctic outbreak of cold air will expand, dangerously cold wind chills expected
Finland, Sweden complete repairs on Baltic Sea cables
Black boxes from Vilnius plane crash to be sent to Germany
U.S.: Strong winds, lower elevation rain and higher elevation snow
 

BUSINESS

EU Commission, EIB to invest in European battery manufacturing

U.S. oil rigs continue decline
EU ports handled 3.4 billion tonnes of freight in 2023
U.S. oil rig count down by 1, Canadian up by 1
Philippines breaks ground on massive 5 billion kWh solar farm
U.S. drillers cut oil and gas rigs this week, says Baker Hughes
 

Trending Now

U.S.: Below normal temperatures in south and east, west will experience above normal temperatures

U.S. rigs increased nicely

New York: More than $15.5 million awarded through Office of Strategic Workforce Development

Amgen will expand in North Carolina, create 370 jobs


POLITICS

Lieutenant Governor Way to lead inaugural New Jersey-India commission trip to India

Commission approves €1.9 billion German State aid in favor of DB Cargo
Pakistan proposes Russia take part in oil and gas exploration on its shelf
Michigan Governor met with business leaders and foreign officials in Spain
Spain passes measures to protect workers amid climate emergency
Ontario investing $1 billion to help municipalities build more homes
 

Today We Recommend

Brazil unveils investment plan to spur agro-industrial development


Highlights 

New York: More than $15.5 million awarded through Office of Strategic Workforce Development

Amgen will expand in North Carolina, create 370 jobs

NexGen Cabinets selects North Carolina for East Coast operation


COMPANIES

CELIA submarine cable connecting Caribbean to U.S.

Amazon sued over slow deliveries to low-income areas in U.S.
Saudi Aramco acquires 10% stake in Renault-Geely JV
21CS will create 25 new jobs in Carteret County, North Carolina
Heidelberg Materials acquires Giant Cement to boost U.S. footprint
Commission finds Estonian State aid to agricultural company Tartu Agro to be incompatible State aid
 

CAREERS

Pan-African legal group CLG appoints Leon Van der Merwe as partner

Stellantis board accepts Carlos Tavares’ resignation as CEO
Joe Depa named as EY global chief innovation officer
Comviva appoints chief strategy, technology and transformation officer
Orion Innovation names Garima Singh chief people officer
Rohde & Schwarz appoints Markus Fischer as COO
 

ECONOMY

Indonesia goes from $0.6 billion deficit to $5.9 billion surplus

Greece to repay $5.3 billion bailout debt early
Fraser Institute: Canada’s debt ranking falls from best in G7 to 7th worst
Kuwait reports $5.2 bln budget deficit in FY 2023-24
Eurozone reports modest Q1 GDP growth, stable annual inflation
Italy sees faster economic growth in Q1
 

EARNINGS

Ericsson Q2 sales down but North America up

Lockton revenue $3.55 billion
Motorcar Parts of America Q4 sales $189.5 million
Limoneira Q2 revenue $44.6 million
Lululemon athletica Q1 revenue increased 10% to $2.2 billion
PVH Q1 GAAP EBIT $205 million
 

OP-ED

Micromanaging is the worst enemy of efficiency and teamwork

Niger set to monetize massive gas reserves through Saharan natural gas pipeline
Putting the brakes on EV folly that choked the market
Oil discovery in Kavango Basin may mean huge benefits for Namibians
Cape Town and Dubai battle over Africa's energy future
Is America going to lose its superpower status?
 

AGRIFISH

Maltese official hails bluefin tuna export to China

Brazil unveils investment plan to spur agro-industrial development
Government pays out £57 million to farmers affected by flooding
Canada confirms new case of Dermo disease in oysters
Bulgaria, Romania demand protective measures against Ukrainian honey imports
Malaysia invests $2.55m in 2025 to boost onion production and reduce imports
 

LEADERSHIP

Study: Missing a deadline has a bigger impact than you might think

Employers prefer younger job candidates for AI roles although experienced workers perform same or better
Study finds workers misjudge wage markets
Some organizations may need to expand their hierarchical structures earlier than others
Study finds there's right way and wrong way to deliver negative feedback in workplace
Allyship is critical and its needs appreciation
 

CRIME

Commission fines Pierre Cardin and its licensee Ahlers €5.7 million for restricting cross-border sales of clothing

BHP, Vale agree to pay $30B damages for Brazil dam disaster
Commission fines České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen €48.7 million over collusion to exclude common compe
SEC charges Keurig with making inaccurate statements regarding recyclability of K-Cup beverage pod
SEC charges John Deere with FCPA violations for subsidiary’s role in Thai bribery scheme
AG Bonta secures $3.9 million settlement with cryptocurrency company Robinhood
 

Magazine

TRAVEL

Radisson Hotel Group debuts in the heart of Tunisia’s capital city, Tunis

Morocco’s first Radisson branded hotel opens in Casablanca
Buna channels, an unreal and beautiful part of Bosnia and Herzegovina
JW Marriott unveils Mindful Haven with opening of JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi
Sotheby's Sports Week returns with fantastic artifacts
Red Roof properties open in Michigan
 

SEA, LAND, AIR

Citroën C3 Aircross, the most affordable compact SUV with 7 seats

2025 Chevrolet Equinox stands apart with fresh looks and capability
Hill Helicopters HX50, luxury in the sky
Opel Movano becomes fully equipped camper van
Porsche Panamera, new hybrid variants
Dodge Charger, 670 horsepower of electric
 

DESIGN

Cold night, hot fire pit, cool entertainment

Embellish your home with PVC panels
You'll have to hurry if you want one of 20 new Louis Vuitton watches
Luxury duvet looks good, fells good and keeps you healthy
Vacheron Constantin, watches for life and more
Schüller kitchens, where functionality marries design
 

GADGETS

MESA/Boogie Celebrates 40-year partnership with John Petrucci

reMarkable 2, monochrome tablet for your thoughts and your eyes
OnePlus Ace 3V, first with Snapdragon 7 Plus Gen 3
ASUS Zenfone 11 Ultra, flagship with a reason
Samsung Galaxy S24 is photography powerhouse
Casette tapes are making a big comeback, and so are portable players
 

HEALTH

Human cases of anthrax reported in western Mongolia

One more barrier to developing vaccine for HIV removed
Rwanda begins world's first clinical trial for treatment of Marburg virus disease
Rwanda restricts gatherings amid Marburg virus outbreak, to begin trials of vaccine
Teksas Attorney General reaches settlement in first-of-its-kind healthcare generative AI investigation
Potentially deadly fungal disease spreading in California
 

MEANTIME

World-first carbon-14 diamond battery made

Einstein Telescope step closer
Exoplanet-hunting telescope to begin search for another Earth in 2026
India to build first phase of its own space station by 2028
Roscosmos chief approves schedule of creating Russian orbital station through 2033
Potentially habitable 'exo-Venus' with Earth-like temperature discovered