India's Varun beverages surges on S. Africa foray with $159 million deal

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Shares in Pepsi Indian bottler Varun Beverages soared as much as 17.8% in early trade on Wednesday, a day after the company said it would buy South Africa's The Beverage Company in a deal valued at 13.2 billion rupees ($158.73 million).

($1 = 83.1625 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto; Editing by Rashmi Aich)