BIZCHINA / Top Biz News |
Wahaha wins 3rd lawsuit against Danone in China(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-22 14:13 Hangzhou-based Chinese beverage giant Wahaha Group won its third lawsuit against Danone, after a court in northwest China's Xinjiang rejected Danone's litigation.
"Zong didn't take advantage of his post as Chairman of Danone-Wahaha joint ventures to gain opportunities for his own company, and there isn't competition between Danone-Wahaha joint ventures and Xinjiang Shihezi Wahaha Food Co Ltd. Besides, Zong has obtained agreement of Danone-Wahaha's board to open the new company," the court ruled. French food group Danone has not responded to the latest loss yet. This is the third time that Wahaha won lawsuits against Danone, after wining those in Hangzhou and Guilin, earlier this month. Danone, which owns a 51-percent stake in 39 Danone-Wahaha joint ventures, accused Wahaha of setting up independent companies and selling products identical to those sold by the joint venture. Danone had demanded a 51-percent stake in the non-joint venture companies, which Wahaha rejected. Since mid-year, the two companies have filed numerous complaints and lawsuits against each other in various Chinese and foreign jurisdictions. |
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