Greek brewer Macedonian Thrace Brewery (MTB) will likely be paid at least €43 million in damages by Heineken, following the latest ruling in a case centring around anti-competitive practices.

The Amsterdam District Court issued an interim judgment on 18 February accepting the methodology used to calculate damages in a lawsuit brought by Macedonian Thrace Brewery (MTB), producer of the Vergina Beer brand, against Heineken and its Greek subsidiary Athenian Brewery.

The case originates from a landmark decision by the Hellenic Competition Commission in December 2015, which found that Athenian Brewery had abused a dominant position in Greece’s beer market for at least 16 years, restricting competition and excluding smaller rivals such as MTB.

In its latest ruling, the Amsterdam court endorsed a damages quantification model developed by economic consultancy Oxera for MTB, rejecting counterarguments put forward by Heineken and its expert adviser Charles River Associates.

Based on the court’s current assessment, principal damages to be awarded to MTB are estimated at at least €43 million. When statutory interest is added, the total award could exceed €83 million, with experts costs potentially added once further substantiated by MTB.

Both sides have been instructed to submit additional statements by 18 March, as the court continues to assess the final damages amount.

The Dutch proceedings follow years of litigation tied to the Greek competition authority’s findings. Athenian Brewery previously challenged the 2015 ruling through the Greek courts but ultimately lost its administrative appeal.

In the Dutch private enforcement action, the Amsterdam court has already determined that it is bound by the Greek regulator’s findings and that Heineken and Athenian Brewery are jointly and severally liable for damages resulting from the infringement.

However, a final ruling on damages will only be issued after the Supreme Court of the Netherlands decides on an appeal filed by Heineken and Athenian Brewery concerning jurisdiction. That decision is expected later this month.

The Dutch advocate-general has already advised the court to reject the appeal entirely, citing a February 2025 ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union related to the case.

Demetri Chriss, director at Macedonian Thrace Brewery, said the interim judgment signals that European courts are willing to impose substantial damages in competition cases involving dominant beverage players.

The ruling could also have wider implications for the beer industry, as other competitors pursue similar claims. Carlsberg and its subsidiary Olympic Brewery have also filed proceedings in Amsterdam seeking damages from Heineken and Athenian Brewery over alleged abuses in the Greek beer market.