The US$3.6 billion takeover of the Latin American soft drinks group, Panamerican Beverages Inc. (Panamco), by the Mexican soft drinks bottler, Coca-Cola Femsa, has been approved by the Mexican Antitrust Commission.

Femsa announced on Friday that it had been given the go-ahead by the Mexican authorities. The company added that the Brazilian Ministry of Justice had issued a favourable legal opinion in support of the deal to the Brazilian Antitrust Commission which is due to make its ruling on the acquisition within the next 60 days.

The acquisition would create the second largest bottler of Coke brands in the world.