LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Japan's Suntory Beverage & FoodLtd has agreed to buy the Lucozade and Ribena brandsfrom GlaxoSmithKline Plc for 1.35 billion pounds ($2.11billion) in a deal that boosts its soft drinks portfolio andhelps it expand into new markets.
The acquisition, announced by the companies on Monday, hadbeen widely anticipated after people close to the process saidlast week that Suntory was in advanced talks on a deal thatwould pre-empt an auction of the iconic British drinks.