Barr said its net debt rose to £25.6 million – a rise of £18.9 million on the previous year – on a £40 million overall banking facility, £10 million of which is due to be paid in January 2014. A further £20 million revolving credit facility Barr entered into post year end with Royal Bank of Scotland, was put in place "to cover short term working capital requirements through to March 2014", Barr said. The company said the rise in debt "reflects early payment of the final dividend, fees related to the potential merger with Britvic plc and capital spend related to the new Milton Keynes facility, elements of which will convert to lease finance." Barr brought forward its final dividend to from June 2013 to January, ahead of its "expected merger" with Britvic, which cost the group £8.5 million. The new manufacturing and warehousing facility in Milton Keynes is a £44 million overall investment Barr said will come on line in the summer, accounted for £20.4 million of expenditure last year.