Court orders Heineken to pay €111 million
The Amsterdam court holds Heineken liable for damage caused by abuse of power in the Greek beer market.
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Heineken must pay €111.2 million in damages to Greek brewer Macedonian Thrace Brewery, known as MTB. The Amsterdam court ruled that Heineken, as parent company, is liable for abuse of a dominant position by its subsidiary Athenian Brewery.
The ruling is a new step in a years-long legal battle over the Greek beer market. MTB, producer of the Vergina brand, argued that Athenian Brewery had disadvantaged competitors for years. Greece’s competition authority had previously established that abuse of a dominant position took place between 1998 and 2014.
According to the court, this is a so-called follow-on damages case. The infringement itself has already been established, and the new ruling is mainly concerned with the extent of the damage suffered by the competitor. The court assessed the damage at €111.2 million.
The case concerns more than just the Greek subsidiary. Heineken N.V., based in Amsterdam, has also been held liable. The ruling therefore directly affects the Dutch parent company.
The Amsterdam court had previously considered whether the Dutch courts had jurisdiction to hear the case against Heineken and Athenian Brewery. The Supreme Court confirmed that proceedings could continue in the Netherlands. The substance of the dispute concerns actions on the Greek market.
The ruling may have implications for other damages claims following competition cases, as it shows that a parent company can, in certain circumstances, also be held financially liable for the conduct of a subsidiary. The judgment obliges Heineken to pay damages. It is still unclear whether further legal remedies are available and whether Heineken will use them. The payment deadline is also not yet known.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- According to reports, the Amsterdam court awarded MTB €111.2 million in damages.
- The case concerns alleged abuse of a dominant position in the Greek beer market by Athenian Brewery.
- Heineken has been held partly liable as the Dutch parent company.
- Greece’s competition authority had previously established an infringement covering the period 1998–2014.
Left
Arguments A substantial damages award is needed to deter abuse of power by large corporations and give smaller competitors access to the market.
Values Fair competition, protection of smaller businesses and limits on economic power.
Consequences Without substantial penalties, companies may, according to this approach, treat infringements as a business risk; stricter liability can prevent future distortions of competition.
Centre
Arguments The ruling should primarily be seen as an application of existing competition rules. Careful calculation of damages and a full opportunity to appeal are more important than a general condemnation of large companies.
Values Legal certainty, independent justice and a level playing field.
Consequences A well-reasoned judgment can provide clarity for companies and regulators, but excessively broad liability could increase legal uncertainty for international corporations.
Right
Arguments A parent company should not automatically be held responsible for every decision made by a foreign subsidiary. The court must establish precisely what influence Heineken had and prevent damages claims from becoming disproportionate burdens.
Values Freedom of ownership, proportionality and restraint by the government towards businesses.
Consequences A large claim can affect investment and business operations; at the same time, enforcement remains justified if the parent company’s involvement is legally established.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s central claim is confirmed by an ANP report and an independent Greek business source. The court documents confirm the background and legal context; the only uncertainty is whether Heineken will appeal.
- confirmed The Amsterdam court awarded MTB €111.2 million in damages. — This is stated in the ANP report published on 21 October 2026. source
- confirmed MTB is a Greek brewer and competitor of Athenian Brewery. — This follows from the ANP report and the public court document. source
- confirmed Athenian Brewery is a subsidiary of Heineken. — The judgment and reports describe Athenian Brewery as Heineken’s Greek subsidiary. source
- confirmed Greece’s competition authority established abuse of a dominant position during the period 1998–2014. — This is stated in the Amsterdam court document. source
- confirmed The Supreme Court confirmed that the Dutch courts could hear the case. — This follows from ECLI:NL:HR:2026:814. source
- uncertain Heineken may still use further legal remedies. — The article presents this as a possibility; the sources consulted do not confirm whether an appeal will be filed. source
Editor's note
It is certain that, according to ANP and a Greek business news source, the Amsterdam court awarded MTB €111.2 million in damages and holds Heineken partly liable for the conduct of Athenian Brewery. The publicly available court documents confirm the background and the liability issue, but do not provide all details of the new final amount; nothing has been confirmed about any appeal.Sources
- Heineken moet 111 miljoen euro betalen aan Griekse concurrent — ANP via Zeelandnet
- Schadevergoeding van 111 miljoen euro voor Macedonian Thrace Brewery — BusinessNews.gr
- ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2026:1692 — Rechtbank Amsterdam via Wetten-Overheid.nl
- ECLI:NL:HR:2026:814 — Hoge Raad der Nederlanden
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „heineken mtb”
- De Telegraaf — „heineken mtb”
- Trouw — „heineken mtb”