For the Competition Commission, chairman Dr Derek Morris noted that the High Court's concerns were limited to a procedural matter. So far, no decision on a merger by a British minister has been overturned in the courts. Eleven previous appeals in merger cases have all failed. Interbrew had said the ruling defied logic and was clearly disproportionate to the competition issues at stake. Jobs might also have been a factor in the government's decision to block the takeover, as the deal was expected to lead to the closure of a number of UK breweries.
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