IN BRIEF : Seagram deal

Seagram, the Canadian drinks company, is paying $285m (£183m) for Dole Food's soft drinks business. One of the main thrusts of the deal will give Seagram access to manufacturing plant in the growing Japanese and Chinese markets where Dole has est ablished some joint ventures.

Seagram's soft drinks are mainly sold under the Tropicana brand name, and the division turns over $1.5bn a year. Dole's soft drinks business has annual sales of $320m.