PepsiCo offers $6bn for bottling companies

PepsiCo, the world's second-largest soft drinks manufacturer, yesterday offered to pay $6bn (£4.1bn) to acquire its largest two bottlers, in a bid to seize greater control over its product sales in North America.

The maker of Pepsi and Gatorade said it will offer $29.50 a share in Pepsi Bottling Group, and $23.27 in Pepsi Americas to take control of both companies in which it only has minority stakes. Pepsico said the transaction would add about 15 per cent to its earnings when full synergies are eventually achieved.

If the acquisitions go ahead, PepsiCo will handle the distribution of about 80 per cent of its total North American beverage volume. "Our operating environment has evolved dramatically in the last decade," said PepsiCo chairman Indra Nooyi. "By reshaping our business model we can significantly improve our competitiveness and our growth prospects"