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Carlsberg to buy Britvic ( BTVCF ) for 1,315p per share

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Carlsberg will also buy out Marston's from brewing joint

venture

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Danish brewer plans to create integrated beverage busines

in UK

(Writes through, adds detail on Marston's, Pepsico ( PEP ), background)

July 8 (Reuters) - Carlsberg has agreed to

buy British soft drinks maker Britvic ( BTVCF ) for 3.3 billion

pounds ($4.23 billion) and buy out UK pub group Marston's

from its joint venture with the Danish brewer.

Carlsberg's announcement on Monday said that it plans to

create an integrated beer and soft drinks company in Britain.

The new Carlsberg Britvic business will also strengthen the

Danish group's partnership with PepsiCo ( PEP ), which has

bottling deals with both Carlsberg and Britvic ( BTVCF ).

Carlsberg raised its bid for Britvic ( BTVCF ) to 1,315 pence per

share - comprising cash and a special dividend of 25 pence a

share - after the British company rejected 1,250 pence per share

last month.

Marston's said on Monday that it would sell its 40% stake in

its brewing joint venture Carlsberg Marston's Limited for 206

million pounds in cash.

Carlsberg is looking to expand its focus on categories

including cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzers and ready-to-drink

cocktails to capitalise on growing appetite for beverages

outside the traditional beer category.

($1 = 0.7808 pounds)