Sysco pulling out of US Foods buyout after FTC move

NEW YORK — Sysco is scrapping its proposed $3.5 billion buyout of Rosemont-based US Foods after a Federal Trade Commission legal victory that temporarily blocked the deal to combine the two food-service companies.

The FTC opposed the deal, saying it would reduce competition by putting 75 percent of the national market for suppliers to restaurants and other food-service operations under the control of one company. The U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., granted the halt on Tuesday.

The end of the deal will cost Sysco. It will pay $300 million to US Foods and $12.5 million to another company, Performance Foods Group, in breakup fees. Performance Foods had a deal to buy 11 US Foods facilities in 11 markets.

The deal, announced in December 2013, was originally intended to close in 2014, but opposition from antitrust regulators delayed that.

“After reviewing our options, including whether to appeal the Court’s decision, we have concluded that it’s in the best interests of all our stakeholders to move on,” said Bill DeLaney, Sysco president and CEO, in a statement.

DeLaney said the company will continue to pursue cost-saving opportunities and acquisitions. The company’s board of directors has also approved an additional $3 billion in stock buybacks over the next two years to offset dilution from benefit and stock option plans.

Shares of Sysco, based in Houston, rose 1.6 percent to $39 in premarket trading. Rosemont, Illinois-based US Foods is jointly owned by the investment forms Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts Co. L.P.