Dairy Farmers says Parmalat seeks bid clearance

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australian dairy producer Dairy Farmers said on Friday that Italy's Parmalat (PLT.MI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) has sought clearance from Australia's competition regulator to make a bid, a deal that could be worth between A$800 million and A$1 billion ($755-$943 million).

Dairy Farmers said Parmalat is bidding together with Australian farming cooperative Murray Goulburn. A spokesman for Parmalat had earlier told Reuters it had lodged the request with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Dairy Farmers, which is owned by some 2,000 Australian farmers and makes Dairy Farmers brand milk, Coon cheese and Ski yoghurt, put itself up for sale last month. It has said there has been wide interest in a deal.

Parmalat is the third group to seek regulator clearance, following New Zealand's Fonterra and National Foods, owned by Japan's Kirin Holdings (2503.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Parmalat has extensive operations in northern Queensland state, which analysts have said could overlap with some of Dairy Farmers' business. Its chief executive, Enrico Bondi, told shareholders last month that it was looking at deals in Australia.

Parmalat shares in Milan last traded down 0.3 percent.

Murray Goulburn is the largest processor of milk in Australia, processing around 35 percent, and has eight plants in southern Victoria state.

The ACCC is due to rule on the National Foods bid by July 3.

Dairy Farmers Chief Executive Rob Gordon said on Friday that more parties may seek regulator clearance. However, any bidders that did not have existing dairy operations in Australia would not be expected to seek ACCC clearance.