PepsiCo’s Acquisition of Pipers Crisps Under U.K. Antitrust Scrutiny

The U.K.'s competition authority opened an antitrust inquiry into PepsiCo Inc.'s planned acquisition of Pipers Crisps Limited, a U.K.-based snack manufacturer.

The Competition and Markets Authority will accept comments on the pending transaction until Dec. 21. Regulators are assessing if the packaged food merger will result in a “substantial lessening of competition,” according to a Dec. 7 statement issued by CMA.

PepsiCo announced the Pipers Crisps deal Nov. 5. The deal is expected to close in early 2019, PepsiCo said.

“PepsiCo plans to accelerate the growth of the Pipers business in the U.K and will continue to develop the export ...