Carlsberg’s £3.3 billion acquisition of beverage maker Britvic has been approved by the UK competition regulator, paving the way for one of the biggest acquisitions of the year.
The two companies announced the deal in July, with the aim of combining Carlsberg’s beer portfolio with the soft drinks range of Britvic, based in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.
In September, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began an initial review of the merger. On Tuesday, the CMA confirmed that it would not take the investigation further. The transaction is expected to close on January 16.
A Carlsberg spokesperson said: “The combination of Carlsberg and Britvic will create a highly attractive multi-drink supplier in the UK, with an efficient supply chain and distribution network that will provide our customers with a portfolio of market-leading brands and world-class service”. Following completion of the acquisition, Carlsberg plans to establish a unified operation called Carlsberg Britvic.
