(Adds background, timing of deal)
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 said that theRexam board would not have accepted the offer from Ball unlessit could see a clear route to get it approved. The company saidon Feb. 19 it expected the deal to close in the first half of2016.
However, analysts have said the size of the combined companycould force regulators to demand concessions such as asset salesin return for letting the deal through.
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 and LouiseHeavens)