Including debt and other liabilities WhiteWave currently has, the deal is valued at $12.5 billion. Both companies expect it to close by the end of the year, pending the necessary approvals from shareholders and regulators. Danone plans to finance the entire deal with debt and said it has received commitments from banks to secure the debt needed to complete the transaction. The French company believes it will keep the "strong" investment-grade credit rating it currently enjoys.