US Justice Department sues to block $20bn AB InBev takeover of Mexican brewer Gruope Modelo The US Justice Department said the takeover of the Mexican brewer "would substantially lessen competition in the market for beer in the United States... resulting in consumers paying more for beer and having fewer new products from which to choose." AB InBev, which brews Budweiser and Stella Artois, said the action was "inconsistent with the law, the facts and the reality of the market place." "We remain confident in our position, and we intend to vigorously contest the DOJ's action in federal court," the company said in a statement. AB InBev wants to buy the half of Grupo Modelo, maker of Corona, Negra Modelo and Pacifico beers, that it does not already own. In an attempt to avert a competition problems, the company has agreed to sell Modelo's stake in Crown Imports, its US distributor, to Constellation Brands for $1.85bn. The US market is dominated AB InBev with 47pc of the US market and MillerCoors, a joint venture between SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing, with a 28.4pc market share. Crown is third with 5.3pc. US law passed after Prohibition requires that makers of alcoholic drinks sell their products to wholesalers who distribute them to retailers.