LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Burger King Worldwide (>> Burger King Worldwide Inc) and Tim Hortons Inc (>> Tim Hortons Inc.) on Tuesday said their $11.5 billion merger is "moving forward as planned," as new Treasury Department rules on corporate tax inversions take effect.

"This deal has always been driven by long-term growth and not by tax benefits," the companies said in a joint statement.

Fast-food burger chain Burger King is in the midst of inverting to Canada in a deal with coffee and doughnut seller Tim Hortons.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

Stocks treated in this article : Tim Hortons Inc., Burger King Worldwide Inc