Wellington, Dec 8 NZPA - Australian drinks company Coca-Cola Amatil is seeking permission from the Commerce Commission to acquire cordial maker Baker Hall.

The New Zealand unit of Coca-Cola Amatil wants to buy the bottling production line, brands and business assets of Baker Hall from Old Fashioned Foods Ltd.

Baker Hall traces its history back to a family business started in Arrowtown in Central Otago a century ago. It is not related to Barker's, a fruit syrup maker that traces its history back to a farm in Geraldine.

CCA has the exclusive licence to bottle the Coca-Cola brand in New Zealand, and has five bottling plants in New Zealand.

Last month Lion Nathan, the now Australian-based drinks company once run by Sir Douglas Myers, announced a $A7.6 ($NZ9.44) billion takeover of Coca-Cola Amatil.

Lion has 52 percent of the New Zealand beer market while Coca-Cola Amatil has 53 percent of the New Zealand non-alcoholic ready-to-drink market and 75 percent of the carbonated soft drink market.

Analysts said the deal looks like part of a major realignment of drinks giants.

Japanese drinks company Suntory has purchased Frucor, which holds the Pepsi bottling licence in New Zealand. Frucor's brands include Fresh Up, Mizone, V, H2go and Just Juice.

Japanese drinks company Kirin controls Lion Nathan.

NZPA WGT pjg nb