RPC takeover deadline

US FIrM Berry Global Group has been given just under a month to decide whether to buy British plastic packaging maker rPC after threatening to gatecrash its £3.3bn takeover.

Last month Berry said it was considering tabling a rival bid for rPC just a week after US private equity giant Apollo Global Management’s 782p- a- share offer was accepted. However, the Takeover Panel says Berry must announce a firm intention to make an offer for rPC by March 13, or walk away.

The deadline will cease to apply if another company announces a firm intention to buy rPC.

The regulator said both rPC and Berry have accepted its ruling.