BRUSSELS, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The European Commission said onFriday that it had approved U.S. drinks can maker Ball Corp's planned 4.43 billion pound ($6.35 billion) purchase ofRexam Plc subject to the divestment of 12 plants.
"The Commission's investigation showed that the transaction,as notified, would have reduced competition in the alreadyconcentrated markets for beverage cans and risked increasingprices for customers," the Commission said in a statement.
Ball submitted commitments to sell 10 can body plants inAustria, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland andSpain and two can end plants in Britain and Germany, along withBall's business and technical centre in Bonn, Germany.
"The Commission concluded that the commitments ensure thatan important alternative supplier will remain available. Theyaddress in full the competition concerns raised on the marketsfor beverage cans," the Commission said.
The world's two largest beverage can makers by volume areseeking to merge to improve management of capital spending andcosts. ($1 = 0.6974 pounds) (Reporting By Philip Blenkinsop, editing by Julia Fioretti)
