Brewers in the Netherlands come under EU antitrust microscope

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2005

BRUSSELS (AFP) — The European Union's executive arm has launched action against a number of brewing companies operating in the Netherlands on suspicion they fixed beer prices there, a spokesman told AFP.

The spokesman said the European Commission, which oversees competition issues in the EU, "has decided to open formal proceedings against several brewers active in the Netherlands and has sent them a statement of objections."

The commission refused to confirm the name of the companies concerned, but an official close to the matter said four are involved: Royal Grolsch, Heineken, Bavaria and the Dutch wing of Belgium's InBev, Interbrew.

InBev, Heineken and Grolsch confirmed they had been sent the documents.

"We have received them," an InBev spokesman...