Belgium: InBev faces further legal contests over management golden handshakes

InBev is facing further potential legal contests from ex-management over the financial terms of their golden-handshake packages upon leaving the brewer, reported daily Le Soir in its weekend edition, without citing sources, AFX News Limited reported April 16.

The report names ex-sales director Juan Vigara as one of the officials arguing over the terms of his agreement.

Officials left the company notably in 2004 following the merger of Interbrew and Companhia de Bebidas das Americas (AmBev), forming InBev.

InBev declined to comment.

Last Friday, InBev refused to comment on a report that John Brock, former chief executive of the brewer, is taking legal advice over 30 mln eur he believes he is owed under a golden-handshake package following his departure in 2005.

Le Soir reported then, without naming sources, that while InBev recognises that it owes Brock 10 mln eur, the remaining 20 mln eur includes stock options which were cancelled as Brock did not spend 3 years at the head of the company.

Brock is looking for an amicable settlement rather than a court case, the report added.

The newspaper said at the weekend that the company has made moves to change its compensation policies following the departure of Brock.