India antitrust body raids Pernod, AB InBev in liquor industry crackdown, sources say

United Breweries

19/12/2024 07:21

By Aditya Kalra
       NEW DELHI, Dec 19 (Reuters) - India's antitrust body has
raided offices of alcohol giants Pernod Ricard  PERP.PA  and
Anheuser-Busch InBev  ABI.BR  as it investigates allegations of
price collusion with retailers in a southern state, sources
familiar with the matter said.
    Wednesday's surprise raids by the Competition Commission of
India (CCI) targeted the offices in the city of Hyderabad, and
some retailers in nearby Telangana state, the five sources said,
for one of the biggest such recent crackdowns in the industry.
    The sources spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not
authorised to speak to the media.
    Pernod, maker of brands like Chivas Regal, did not
immediately respond to a request for comment. 
    In a statement, InBev, which makes Budweiser, said, "While
we cannot comment on the specifics, we take antitrust compliance
very seriously. We are working together in collaboration with
the authorities".
    The CCI did not immediately respond to a request for comment
on the matter.

 (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Additional reporting by Aditi Shah;
Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
 ((Email: aditya.kalra@tr.com; X: @adityakalra;))