BRUSSELS, June 16 (Reuters) - European Union marketcompetition regulators are set to decide by July 20 whether toapprove the 4.4 billion-pound ($6.9 billion) merger deal betweenBall Corp and Rexam Plc, the world's two largestmakers of drinks cans.
The companies sought approval for the deal on Tuesday,according to a filing on the European Commission website.
The European Commission can clear the merger unconditionallyin the preliminary review or extend the deadline to considerconcessions offered to allay competition concerns. It can alsoopen a full-scale investigation to examine deeper worries.
Rexam Chief Executive Graham Chipchase has dismissed anysignificant regulatory problems but analysts said the size ofthe combined company could force regulators to demandconcessions such as asset sales in return for letting the dealthrough.
Rexam makes cans for soft drinks company Coca-Cola Co and beer producer Anheuser-Busch InBev. ($1 = 0.6401 pounds) (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Greg Mahlich)