Coca-Cola close to Glaceau acquisition

Coca-Cola close to Glaceau acquisition

The top soft drink company has filed a premerger notification with regulators regarding its proposed acquisition of vitamin water maker.

Coca-Cola has filed a premerger notification with U.S. regulators about the proposed acquisition of vitamin water maker Glaceau, industry publication Beverage Digest reported Monday.

 

Citing "informed sources," Beverage Digest said the world's largest beverage company filed a Hart-Scott-Rodino Act notification with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which is required for proposed deals of significant size, so the FTC and Department of Justice can assess whether the deal is likely to reduce marketplace competition.

A Coca-Cola spokesman declined to comment.

Beverage Digest said a deal, which it heard could be worth about $4 billion, is still likely subject to approval by Coca- Cola's board of directors.

Glaceau, which is 30 percent owned by India's Tata Tea Ltd., maker of Tetley Tea, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Late last month, Beverage Digest reported that Coke, which is trying to enhance its portfolio of noncarbonated drinks, was in "serious talks" to acquire all or part of Glaceau, which controls 3.1 percent of the U.S. noncarbonated beverage market.

Glaceau, the No. 2 maker of enhanced water behind PepsiCo Inc.'s (down $0.45 to $69.03, Propel fitness water, sold 77 million cases last year, compared with Propel's 95 million, according to Beverage Digest.

Coke (down $0.70 to $51.93, shares lost 1.3 percent in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange Monday.