Top management officials of some of the four major beer makers suspected of a price cartel are believed to have been informed of details of shipping price hikes negotiated among the companies, informed sources have said. The Japan Fair Trade Commission is investigating whether these top officials recognized that the information was a result of negotiations, the sources said Friday. According to the sources, some officials of the companies — Asahi Breweries, Kirin Brewery, Sapporo Breweries and Suntory Holdings — have admitted to the cartel during the commission’s investigation.
Officials from the companies are believed to have held unofficial talks after industry group meetings to exchange information on the timing and scale of shipping price increases and compile price tables. On Wednesday, the commission conducted compulsory inspections of the headquarters of the four companies on suspicion of violating the Antimonopoly Act. Under the act, companies found to have engaged in illegal price fixing can face penalties, including financial surcharges and orders to prevent further violations.
Unlike routine administrative inspections, compulsory investigations allow authorities to search premises and seize evidence under court warrants, typically in cases considered particularly serious or damaging to consumers. The four companies, which collectively control more than 90% of Japan’s beer market, are suspected of coordinating the timing and scale of price increases for beer, low-malt beer and other beer-like beverages over several years.
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