EU competition authorities have today extended the deadline for their review of Amcor's takeover of Alcan's European packaging businesses by two weeks.

According to reports, the European Commission has set a deadline of 14 December to give its verdict on the $2.205bn deal, which was first announced in August. The original deadline was next Monday, 30 November.

Australian group Amcor is buying four units of the Alcan packaging business - Global Tobacco, Food Europe, Food Asia and Global Pharmaceuticals - in what has been seen as the packaging deal of the year.

Reports today suggest that the two companies have offered concessions over the deal in order for it to be approved by the EU competition commission. However, it is unclear what these concessions would involve.

Rio Tinto has also sold its North American food packaging business to Bemis this year but is still trying to offload the Beauty division of its packaging businesses. It is understood to have appointed Ernst & Young earlier this month to advise on the potential sale.