Coca-Cola's bid of $246m for Cadbury Schweppes SA Ltd won regulatory approval from the South African Competition Board.

In South Africa, Coca-Cola already holds a market share of above 80%, while Cadbury has more than 14%.

However Coca-Cola said the deal would not change the competitive landscape in South Africa because Coke has bottled and distributed Cadbury brands there since the 1980s.

"While this acquisition will marginally contribute to our volume, it's important to note that this does not affect the way these brands currently go to market," said Coca-Cola spokesman Ben Deutsch.

The deal is still dependent on the approval of Cadbury shareholders, though the company - which holds 55% of the shares, says it will back the offer.

Boost for sales

The agreement also includes Cadbury Schweppes SA's carbonated soft drink business in Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.

It will boost sales of Coca-Cola products by 60 million unit cases a year in the region, the company said.

In July, Coca-Cola paid $705m for most of Cadbury's brands outside Europe and the United States, and faced regulatory hurdles in several countries.

Employees of Cadbury Schweppes in the region are being offered employment with Coca-Cola.