Fair Trade Office Halts Britvic-AG Barr Merger

Soft drinks giant Britvic's proposed merger with the producer of Irn Bru has been halted by the government's watchdog for fair competition. Shareholders at Britvic and AG Barr had agreed to join forces from Jan.30. But the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has delayed the merger while it probes the deal, which it says could result in a "substantial lessening of competition." (This Is Total Essex)