Beer cartel: AB-InBev sued after all?

Although they went scotch free, having turned themselves whistleblower in the watchdog’s investigation into the German beer cartel, AB-InBev may be dragged to court after all – by German Rail (DB). In 2008, when several German brewers colluded over beer prices, according to German trust busters, AB-InBev were the exclusive beer supplier to DB. AB-InBev’s contract with DB only expired recently after six years. They have since been replaced by Bitburger Brewery (another culprit in the beer cartel case) and wheat beer brewer Erdinger.

On 24 March 2014, German media reported that state-owned DB is considering filing for compensation. As DB said: “We are affected by one out of three cartels that are set up in Germany and we want to recoup every euro that we and the taxpayers are entitled to.”

Looks like it could get a bit unpleasant for AB-InBev if DB takes them to court.