PepsiCo has withdrawn its notification and report forms with the Federal Trade Commission regarding its proposed acquisition of the Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiAmericas Inc. for the second time to give the FTC more time to review the information. The company says that under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, it plans to refile at the appropriate time.

 

PepsiCo originally filed its notification forms on Sept. 11, and refilled on Oct. 15. It says the current withdrawal and future refiling will provide the FTC with more time to review the information without requiring a Request for Additional Information. PepsiCo added that it will continue to respond to any informal requests by FTC staff, and that it continues to expect to close the transactions late this year or early next year.