(Adds comment from Ball, background on the deal, divestiture)
By Diane Bartz
WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - Ball Corp and RexamPlc, the world's two largest beverage can makers, havewon U.S. antitrust approval to merge on condition that they selleight aluminum can plants in the United States, the FederalTrade Commission said on Tuesday.
The deal has also won antitrust approval in Europe andBrazil. No further regulatory approvals were needed, said Ballspokeswoman Renee Robinson. The deal is likely to close soon butno date is set, she said.
Colorado-based Ball said last year that it would buy Britishrival Rexam for 4.43 billion pounds ($6.35 billion) to improveefficiency and cut costs. The two companies accountfor 60 percent of beverage can supply in North America, 69percent in Europe and 74 percent in Brazil, according toMorningstar analysts.
The European Commission cleared the deal in January, subjectto the divestment of 12 plants. Brazil cleared it in early June.
European packaging maker Ardagh Group has agreedto buy divested assets for $3.42 billion, including 12 plants inEurope, eight in the United States and two in Brazil.
The assets being sold accounted for $3 billion of sales andaround $375 million of core earnings in 2015, Ball said.
Luxemburg-based Ardagh has said the deal would make it theworld's third-largest beverage can maker, with 110 facilitiesand sales of more than $8.8 billion.
The FTC was concerned about price increases for standard12-ounce cans in the U.S. South, Midwest and West. It was alsoconcerned about nationwide sales of specialty cans, often usedfor energy drinks and other products.
Ardagh will buy plants in California, Illinois, Indiana,Mississippi, Ohio (two), North Carolina and South Carolina. Itwill also acquire Rexam's headquarters in Illinois and anotherRexam facility in the state. (Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Matthew Lewis)
