Judge denies bid to block AB-InBev's takeover of Modelo

A lawsuit opposing AB-InBev's USD 20.1 billion acquisition of Grupo Modelo by nine consumer groups lost its bid for a court order blocking the deal, U.S. media reported on 5 June 2013.

As Brauwelt International reported, in March 2013, the antitrust attorney Joseph Alioto of San Francisco had filed a private antitrust lawsuit on behalf of nine consumers, including six from St. Louis. The lawsuit alleged the acquisition would substantially lessen competition and create a monopoly in the production, distribution and sale of beer in the United States. Incidentally, Mr Alioto was the same attorney who tried to block the Belgian brewer InBev from acquiring Anheuser-Busch in 2008.

According to news agencies, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney said at a hearing that it would be “difficult and awkward at this point to set aside the transaction.”

Mr Alioto may have lost this case, but he should not be poorer for it given that he can still charge his clients his usual fees.