Antitrust enforcers at the Federal Trade Commission have concerns about PepsiCo Inc.'s plans to acquire Quaker Oats Co., an agency official said May 10

Food & Drink Weekly, May 14, 2001

Antitrust enforcers at the Federal Trade Commission have concerns about PepsiCo Inc.'s plans to acquire Quaker Oats Co., an agency official said May 10. FTC investigators fear the $13.8 billion deal, which has yet to receive regulatory approval, will enable Pepsi to leverage Quaker Oats' Gatorade sports drink to gain undue advantage over other beverage manufacturers.

PepsiCo, however, said it had no indication from FTC officials of a plan to recommend blocking the merger. The FTC's five-member commission, which must assess whether the deal complies with U.S. antitrust laws, is scheduled to vote in the next several weeks on whether it should go to court to block the deal.