EU regulators reportedly set to approve Rexam/Ball deal

EU antitrust regulators are set to approve Ball Corp’s bid for drinks can maker Rexam after it improved its concessions, according to reports.

European competition regulators announced in July that they had opened an investigation into US-based Ball’s bid for Rexam.

The European Commission pointed to concerns that a deal could stifle competition in the continent's beverage can and aluminium bottle manufacturing industry.

Ball had maintained this was a "standard step" for the European Commission and added that the transaction was also still being reviewed by other antitrust agencies, including the US Federal Trade Commission and the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica in Brazil.

At 1110 GMT, after Reuters reported the deal was set to be approved, Rexam shares were up 1.5% to 592p.