Coca-Cola/Huiyuan: First Chinese Prohibition Decision under New Merger Control Rules

On March 18, 2009, China’s Ministry of Commerce (“MOFCOM”) blocked Coca-Cola’s planned acquisition of China Huiyuan Juice Group Limited in the first prohibition decision adopted under the Chinese Anti-Monopoly Law, which entered into force in August 2008. This case has been closely watched as an indication of MOFCOM’s approach to foreign companies’ acquisition of well known Chinese companies. Attached please find a memorandum regarding this decision.