Craft brew fans sue to block planned merger of world's biggest beer-makers
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Nearly two dozen beer drinkers in Oregon, California and Washington state have banded together in a lawsuit seeking to block the planned merger of the two biggest beer-makers in the world on antitrust grounds.
Allowing Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA and SABMiller PLC to form one company manufacturing nearly one-third of the world’s beers would not be positive for consumers, the plaintiffs contend.
“Why do we want to allow one entity to control that market? I don’t think it’s good for consumers, I don’t think it’s good for industry, I don’t think it’s good for the tax base, I don’t think it’s good for any of that,” lead plaintiff James DeHoog tells the Oregonian.
DeHoog, the owner of an environmental consulting business near Medford, is a consumer of Oregon craft beer, national macrobrews and wine.
Justia provides basic information about the suit, which was filed Tuesday in Oregon state court.
It seeks a court order blocking the merger, on the theory that the merger would lead to increased beer prices and reduced options for consumers. “If defendants’ proposed transaction is consummated, plaintiffs will sustain irreparable harm for which damages will be unable to compensate plaintiffs, in that competition once lost cannot easily be restored,” the suit contends.
The Oregonian article doesn’t include any response from the defendants.
See also:
CNN Money: “Anheuser-Busch InBev Completes Agreement for SABMiller”
DealBook (New York Times, reg. req.): “Anheuser-Busch InBev Completes Agreement for SABMiller”
