据知情人士透露，涉嫌参与价格垄断的四家主要啤酒制造商的高层管理人员，很可能事先知晓各公司之间协商确定的运费涨价细节。
Top management officials of some of the four major beer makers suspected of a price cartel are believed to have been informed of details of shipping price hikes negotiated among the companies, informed sources have said.
上述人士称，日本公平交易委员会正在调查这些高管是否意识到这些信息源于公司间的协商结果。
The Japan Fair Trade Commission is investigating whether these top officials recognized that the information was a result of negotiations, the sources said Friday.
据悉，朝日啤酒、麒麟啤酒、札幌啤酒以及三得利控股等公司的部分高管，已在委员会的调查过程中承认存在价格垄断行为。
According to the sources, some officials of the companies — Asahi Breweries, Kirin Brewery, Sapporo Breweries and Suntory Holdings — have admitted to the cartel during the commission’s investigation.
据称，这些公司的高管们曾在行业组织会议结束后进行私下交流，互通运费涨价的时机与幅度信息，并共同编制价格调整表。
Officials from the companies are believed to have held unofficial talks after industry group meetings to exchange information on the timing and scale of shipping price increases and compile price tables.
本周三，委员会以涉嫌违反《反垄断法》为由，对这四家公司的总部实施了强制检查。
On Wednesday, the commission conducted compulsory inspections of the headquarters of the four companies on suspicion of violating the Antimonopoly Act.
根据该法律，被认定存在非法价格操纵行为的企业将面临罚款及禁止继续违规等处罚。与普通行政检查不同，强制调查需经法院授权方可实施，通常仅适用于性质恶劣或严重损害消费者利益的案件。
Under the act, companies found to have engaged in illegal price fixing can face penalties, including financial surcharges and orders to prevent further violations. Unlike routine administrative inspections, compulsory investigations allow authorities to search premises and seize evidence under court warrants, typically in cases considered particularly serious or damaging to consumers.
这四家企业合计占据了日本90%以上的啤酒市场份额，目前被怀疑多年来一直协同操纵啤酒、低麦芽啤酒及其他类似啤酒类饮品的涨价时机与幅度。
The four companies, which collectively control more than 90% of Japan’s beer market, are suspected of coordinating the timing and scale of price increases for beer, low-malt beer and other beer-like beverages over several years.