Carlsberg Acquires Soft-Drink Maker Britvic for $4.2 Billion

Danish brewer Carlsberg has agreed to acquire British soft drinks maker Britvic in a $4.2 billion deal. Carlsberg has increased their previous offer for Britvic shares, now including a small dividend that results in a higher total payout per share. The deal will combine Britvic's portfolio of soft drinks brands with Carlsberg's beer portfolio and distribution network. Britvic bottles and distributes PepsiCo brands in the UK and Ireland, and an earlier agreement between Carlsberg and PepsiCo waived any change of control clauses.