BRUSSELS, July 20 (Reuters) - European Union antitrustregulators opened an in-depth investigation on Monday into U.S.drinks can maker Ball Corp's 4.4-billion-pound ($6.85billion) offer for U.K. peer Rexam Plc, concerned aboutthe anti-competitive effects.
"The Commission has concerns that the proposed transactionmay reduce competition in the beverage can and aluminium bottlemanufacturing industry in the European Economic Area," theEuropean Commission said in a statement.
It will now decide by Nov. 25 whether to clear the deal,which combines the world's two largest beverage can makers byvolume serving clients such as Coca-Cola Co andAnheuser-Busch InBev. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee and Julia Fioretti)
