High Court approves Carlsberg takeover of J20 maker Britvic

Carlsberg’s £3.3bn deal to purchase J2O maker Britvic has been authorized by a Excessive Court docket choose.

The Danish brewery, which additionally owns manufacturers together with 1664 and Brooklyn, stated it deliberate to create a single built-in drinks enterprise known as Carlsberg Britvic following the takeover.

Britvic, based mostly in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, employs about 4,500 folks and in addition produces Robinsons squash and Tango.

Mr Justice Hildyard sanctioned the takeover at a brief listening to on Wednesday, stating the scheme “could possibly be and ought to be authorized”.

The businesses announced the agreement in July, saying it will create an “enlarged worldwide group” that might increase into “a number of drinks sectors”.

Andrew Thornton KC, for Britvic, stated in written submissions that the corporate was “the biggest provider of branded nonetheless comfortable drinks and the quantity two provider of carbonated comfortable drinks in Nice Britain”.

Britvic holds an unique licence with US companion PepsiCo to make and promote manufacturers resembling Pepsi, 7up and Lipton Ice Tea within the UK, which Mr Thornton instructed the court docket would proceed following the takeover.

The listening to in London was instructed that the deal will see Britvic taken over by Carlsberg UK Holdings Restricted, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Carlsberg A/S, which Mr Thornton described as “one of many world’s largest worldwide brewing teams” with a market capitalisation of 118bn Danish kroner (£13bn).

The acquisition was authorized by Britvic’s shareholders final August, with the Competitors and Markets Authority giving its approval in December.