PepsiCo announced the $7.8bn acquisition of Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiAmericas in August in a deal designed to speed up decision making and get products to market quicker.

Approving the acquisition of PAS in Europe, the Commission said the transaction was unlikely to lead to a significant change in the market structure because the company already bottles, sells and distributes PepsiCo drinks.

PAS conducts business in the US and Central and Eastern Europe. It also has operations in the Caribbean and Central America.