Feb 18 (Reuters) - Beverage can maker Ball Corp isclose to a deal to buy UK-based Rexam Plc this week,according to people familiar with the matter, the Wall StreetJournal reported.
Rexam said on Feb. 5 it was in talks with Ball Corp for acash-and-stock deal that valued Rexam at 610 pence per share.That would value Rexam at about 4.3 billion pounds ($6.63billion).
Rexam and Ball, suppliers to Coca-Cola Co andAnheuser-Busch InBev, are two of the three big playersin the global beverage can market. Each controls slightly morethan a fifth of the market.
Rexam and Ball Corp executives were not immediatelyavailable for comment. Rexam reports results on Thursday. ($1 = 0.6484 pounds) (Reporting by Rohit T. K. in Bengaluru)