Alexandre Van Damme

AB InBev announced its intention to sell its 50% stake in its Russian joint venture following the invasion of Ukraine, but the authorities blocked successive arrangements. In 2026, the group still held a non-controlling interest, attracting criticism.

State of the evidence

Residual holding and attempts to sell documented

Legal status — source text

Sale rejected by Russian authorities; assets placed under temporary administration in December 2024

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as director; company claims absence of direct operational control

The competition authority is examining conditions imposed by AB InBev on wholesalers and hospitality establishments, following complaints alleging potentially anti-competitive practices.

State of the evidence

Formal investigation and serious indications announced by the authority; infringement not yet established

Legal status — source text

Belgian Competition Authority investigation opened on 16 January 2025 and still ongoing as at 1 September 2026

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as a director; no personal implication documented

The Competition Commission of India changed AB InBev's status from cooperating witness to a party under investigation concerning exclusive incentives offered to retailers in Telangana.

State of the evidence

Change in procedural status and litigation documented; anti-competitive practices not established

Legal status — source text

CCI investigation challenged; interim injunction issued by a Karnataka court in 2026

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as director; no personal involvement alleged

Patrinvest claimed approximately €144 million from Ageas, Fortis's successor, arguing that the 2007 capital increase prospectus had been incomplete or misleading.

State of the evidence

Court action and unfavourable decisions documented

Legal status — source text

First-instance judgment and subsequent appellate ruling unfavourable to Patrinvest; judgment of 7 November 2025

Attribution

Direct involvement as claimant through his holding company Patrinvest

The acquisition of SABMiller left AB InBev with nearly $100 billion in debt. In 2018, the group halved its dividend, triggering a fall in its share price and criticism of its acquisition strategy.

State of the evidence

Debt, dividend cut and prolonged deleveraging documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as director and representative of major shareholders; no personal wrongdoing established

Bud Light's partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney triggered a massive conservative boycott. AB InBev's response was also criticised by LGBT advocates as insufficiently supportive.

State of the evidence

Boycott, sales decline and loss of the top-selling US beer position documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as director; marketing decision not personally attributed

Shareholders accused Kraft Heinz executives and directors of allowing misleading information to be published amid cost-cutting, impairments and accounting investigations.

State of the evidence

Allegations in complaint documented; no personal liability adjudicated on the merits

Legal status — source text

Derivative complaint dismissed without prejudice on 31 March 2023 for failure to make a prior demand on the board

Attribution

Direct involvement as defendant director, but allegations not established

The Commission found that AB InBev had obstructed cheaper beer imports into Belgium to maintain higher prices.

State of the evidence

Infringement acknowledged by the company and definitive European Commission sanction

Legal status — source text

Commission decision of 13 May 2019; fine of €200,409,000

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as a longstanding director; no personal involvement in the practices established

Alexandre Van Damme's move to Chéserex in the Swiss canton of Vaud fuelled debate in Belgium about tax exile. An estimate of €70 million in lost annual tax revenue circulated widely.

State of the evidence

Change of residence documented; claimed tax loss strongly disputed; no fraud established

Legal status — source text

No personal tax proceedings or conviction documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility for changing residence; no attribution of fraud

Accounts of the creation of the brewing giant describe Van Damme as close to the 3G partners and supportive of the bid for Anheuser-Busch despite reservations among the Belgian families.

State of the evidence

Strategic role reported by the press; no illegality alleged

Attribution

Direct involvement as an influential director and representative of a family shareholder bloc