TOLEDO, OH – In July, the U.S. Department of Justice approved the mega-merger of SABMiller and Anheuser-Busch InBev -- the largest beer merger in history, creating a combined U.S. market share of 72 percent.  This approval comes with a number of stipulations stemming from anti-trust concerns.  At last week’s Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio’s Fall Convention, Mark Wagoner discussed these required conduct changes of this new merged entity, and the resulting implications for beer distribution throughout the United States.  In his presentation, "Antitrust for Beer Distributors:  New Protections on Tap," Mark outlined the significant restrictions the DOJ is placing on this new company.  "The impact of this merger on the beer industry – both from a production and distribution standpoint – is immense.  The DOJ has imposed these restrictions in order to ensure a robust future of the industry and a competitive marketplace to protect consumers," said Wagoner. 

Mark is a partner and Co-Administrator of the Litigation Practice Group in the Toledo and Columbus offices.  He has significant experience in all areas of business litigation, including franchise, antitrust, RICO, and securities disputes, and has handled several government investigations on behalf of business clients.  He has repeatedly been included in The Best Lawyers in America^® and Ohio Super Lawyers, holds an AV^® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and is a Life Member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference.  He is an active member of the ABA Forum on Franchising and the ABA Section on Antitrust Law.  Mark served in the Ohio General Assembly for eight years, including five years in The Ohio Senate where he was Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Majority Whip.  Prior to his tenure in The Ohio Senate, Mark served in The Ohio House of Representatives State Representative of the 46^th House District, where he was a member of the House Finance Committee, Public Utilities Committee, and Financial Institutions Committee.  Mark received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from Georgetown University.

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