September 2011

Anticompetitive practices

 The Romanian Competition Authority highlights the distinction between anticompetitive object and effect in the resale price maintenance case on the men’s cloth pants market (Producție Zarah Modern / Cargus Trans / Getin Com)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 226057 visits
On 30 September 2011 the Romanian Competition Authority (CC) established the existence of the resale price maintenance (RPM) clauses in the distribution contracts concluded by SC Producție Zarah Modern SRL(PZM) with its distributorsSC Cargus Trans SRLandSC Getin Com SRLon the market for (...)

A US District Court fines a Japanese company $3.3 M for its conspiracy to restrain trade on US freight forwarding market (Vantec Corporation)
Simmons & Simmons (London)
United Kingdom 4 contributions 1356 visits
Background & Proceedings In 2011, the US District Court for the District of Columbia found that Vantec Corporation had violated Section One of the Sherman Act, i.e. conspiracy to restrain trade (15 U.S.C § 1). Vantec Corporation is a Japanese company, with its main business activities (...)

The Italian Competition Authority fines three companies and a multi-firm agent for concerted practices in the healthcare insurance sector (Campagnia insurance tenders)
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Rome)
Italy 9 contributions 3246 visits
On September 28th, 2011 the Italian Competition Authority (hereinafter ICA) sanctioned with a total fine of EUR 13.583.515 three insurance companies and a multi-firm agent for concerted practices in the healthcare insurance sector. Object of the proceeding, whose investigation activity (...)

The Slovak Antimonopoly Office imposes a fine for bid rigging in public procurement of office supplies (PAP-PEX)
Havel and Partners (Brno)
Czech Republic 10 contributions 3720 visits
Relevant facts On 28 September, 2011, the Slovak Antimonopoly Office’s Cartel Department (the “Office”) imposed a fine on both PAP-PEX and SLOVPAP Slovakia in the total amount of EUR 63,387 for colluding over bids on office supplies in relation to a public procurement of the Social Insurance (...)

The German Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf upholds customer protection provision due to lack of an appreciable restriction of competition (Pet Food)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 174 contributions 58274 visits
On 28 September 2011, the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf (“the Court”) handed down a judgment on appeal regarding the validity of a section of a supply contract concluded between a manufacturer of pet food and a wholesaler. The relevant section of the contract, included, among other (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines company in the ferry transportation for obstruction to a surprise inspection (Transmediterranea)
Callol, Coca & Asociados (Madrid)
Spain 170 contributions 47034 visits
NCC has imposed a heavy fine for conduct by members of inspected company Transmediterranea allegedly obstructing a surprise inspection at company premises. Although it is not the first time the NCC fines a company for obstruction in the framework of dawn raids, the facts of this case look (...)

The US Court of Appeals For the Seventh Circuit holds claims against a foreign price-fixing cartel in the potash industry to be either exempted under the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act or insufficient to state a cause of action under the Twombly/Iqbal pleading standards (Potash)
Cleveland University - Marshall School of Law (Cleveland)
United States 12 contributions 14938 visits
Potash Potash Potash!!!!! En Banc Review Is in the Hizz-ouse, Y’all!* Something striking occurred in the Seventh Circuit this year. In two different, massive antitrust class actions, in the space of about nine months, panels of that court applied the Twombly-Iqbal pleading formula to reach (...)

The Italian Competition Authority fines four local associations for anticompetitive practices in the sector of services for thermic plants (Manutenzione impianti termici Comune di Potenza)
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Rome)
Italy 9 contributions 3246 visits
,
Italy 2 contributions 768 visits
On September 22nd, 2011 the Italian Competition Authority (hereinafter, ICA) fined four local associations of companies, artisans and cooperatives for concerted practices aimed at fixing the economic conditions for the control and maintenance of thermic plants in the City of Potenza. The (...)

The UK OFT issues recommendations designed to encourage increased competition and greater efficiency in the treatment of organic waste
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220031 visits
United Kingdom: Change needed to encourage Competition in Organic Waste Treatment* On 22 September 2011, following a market study, the OFT issued recommendations designed to encourage increased competition and greater efficiency in the treatment of organic waste. In its market study into (...)

The Lithuanian Administrative Court annuls a decision of the NCA and emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the general aim of safeguarding the competition, rather than following a purely bureaucratic approach (Route Taxicabs)
Simmons & Simmons (London)
United Kingdom 4 contributions 1356 visits
Background “Route Taxicabs”, a Business Association of Klaipeda (further on, “Route Taxicabs” Association) requested the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court (further on, Administrative Court) to annul the decision of the National Competition Authority to dismiss an investigation regarding (...)

The German Competition Office imposes fines on manufacturers of wood based products (Manufacturers of wood-based products)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220031 visits
Germany : Multi-Million Fines imposed on Manufacturers of Wood-based Products* On 20 September 2011, the Bundeskartellamt (BKartA) imposed fines totalling approximately € 42 000 000 on four manufacturers of chipboard, oriented strand boards and other wood-based products and on 10 individuals (...)

The US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio grants motion to dismiss class action on an allegation of price fixing of rock salt (Erie County / Morton Salt)
Sheppard Mullin (Los Angeles)
United States 46 contributions 8010 visits
Allegations of Conspiracy to Fix Prices in Ohio Rock Salt Duopoly Flunk “Plausibility” Analysis* Creation of duopolistic interdependence by misapplication of a state statute mandating preferential treatment for local producers is an implausible "slippery slope." Erie County v. Morton Salt, (...)

The EU General Court restricts the liability of parent companies, holding that the Commission can only rely on the presumption of liability if it includes an adequate statement of reasons in its decision (Grolsch)
Jones Day (Brussels)
Belgium 46 contributions 18937 visits
The European General Court found on 15 September 2011 that the European Commission can only rely on the presumption of liability of a parent company for a wholly owned subsidiary if it included an adequate statement of reasons in its decision explaining that it indeed relied on that (...)

The EU General Court annuls fine imposed on parent company for its subsidiary’s participation in a beer industry cartel (Grolsch)
University of East Anglia
United Kingdom 29 contributions 26496 visits
Grolsch Cartel Fine Annulment: Should Parent Companies Pay for the Anti-Competitive Conduct of a Subsidiary?* The General Court has annulled a €36.6m fine imposed on Grolsch for the price fixing of beer in Holland. In its decision, the European Commission had treated Koninklijke Grolsch NV (...)

The EU General Court annuls fine in the Dutch beer cartel case, ruling that the evidence available to the EU Commission was not sufficient to establish the parent company’s liability for its subsidiary’s participation in the cartel (Grolsch)
Booking.com (Amsterdam)
Netherlands 3 contributions 1359 visits
The Dutch Beer Cases: The Value of Whistleblower Statements and the Cutback of Fines in Case of Unreasonably Long Commission Investigations* The General Court has rendered a series of judgments in the Dutch Beer Cartel case that involve a number of legal issues, including in Grolsch v. (...)

The Lisbon Commercial Court confirms the Competition Authority’s decision prohibiting a retail price maintenance agreement regarding equipment used in hospital pharmacies with a reduction of the fines (Hospitals’ Public Tenders)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220031 visits
Portugal: The Lisbon Commercial Court confirms Competition Authority’s Decision on RPM affecting Hospitals’ Public Tenders* On 12 September 2011, the Lisbon Commercial Court (the Court) confirmed the Portugal Competition Authority’s (PCA) decision prohibiting a retail price maintenance (RPM) (...)

The EU Court of Justice Advocate General Kokott renders her opinion in the Czech gas insulated switchgear case holding that the principle ne bis in idem does not preclude National Competition Authority’s from prosecuting the same cartel with respect to different territories or periods (Toshiba)
Belgian Competition Authority (Brussels)
Belgium 18 contributions 23405 visits
AG Kokott’s Opinion in Toshiba: framing the application of the ne bis in idem principle in EU competition law enforcement* One of the main concerns raised by the decentralization of EU competition law enforcement related to the risk of different competition authorities prosecuting and (...)

The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York holds that Chinese law did not compel the defendants in a cartel case to reach agreements on price and output (In re Vitamin C Antitrust Litigation)
Washington and Lee University School of Law (Lexington)
United States 11 contributions 9251 visits
,
Paul Hastings (Washington)
United States 2 contributions 11527 visits
In a recent, strongly worded federal antitrust decision, pleas for international comity by China’s nationalized vitamin industry and its regulatory overseer, China’s foremost trade industry, fell short in a showdown with U.S. domestic antitrust laws. The case indicates that foreign (...)

Unilateral Practices

 The Lithuanian Parliament modifies article 3(11) of the law on competition which sets out the definition of the dominant position
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220031 visits
Lithuania: Extension of Scope of Presumption of Dominant Position in Competition Law* On 29 September 2011, Article 3(11) of the Law on Competition of the Republic of Lithuania which sets out the definition of the dominant position was modified. The amendment came into force on 1 November (...)

The Serbian Administrative Court upholds the infringement decision of the Competition Authority against a public company for abuse of dominance on the funeral services market (Gradska groblja Kragujevac)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 226057 visits
On 22 September 2011 the Administrative Court upheld the infringement decision of the Serbian Competition Authority (KZK) finding an abuse of dominant position in the form of tying by the public company JKP Gradska groblja Kragujevac (GGK). The Court ruled that the KZK has correctly found that (...)

The US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust conducts hearings in an abuse of dominance investigation on the web search industry (Google)
Merkle (Charlottesville)
United States 1 contribution 598 visits
Google Antitrust Hearing: 5 Takeaways* While yesterday’s Senate antitrust hearing on Google practices may have been more about spectacle than action, it was an opportunity to gain insights into the mindset of Google and the government officials that may seek to intervene in their operations. (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines electricity distributors for abusing their dominant positions in the power distribution market by restricting competition in the neighboring market for the provision of electrical installation services (Unión Fenosa and Hidrocantábrico)
Hogan Lovells (Madrid)
Spain 47 contributions 92395 visits
,
LaLiga (Madrid)
7 contributions 4440 visits
On 20 September 2011, the Council of the Spanish Competition Commission (hereinafter «the Council«, «the SCC«) imposed a combined fine of €2,313,000 on electricity distributors Unión Fenosa Distribución, S.A. («Unión Fenosa«) and Hidrocantábrico Distribución Eléctrica, S.A.U. (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority terminates investigation on the alleged abuse of a dominant position of Lithuanian Railways (Lietuvos gelezinkeliai / Baltic Rail)
Valiunas Ellex (Vilnius)
Lithuania 11 contributions 16511 visits
On 15 September 2011 the Competition Council of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter – the Competition Council) by its resolution No 1S-184 terminated the investigation concerning an alleged abuse of a dominant position of AB Lietuvos gelezinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways) (hereinafter – LG) by (...)

A Chinese District People’s court accepts a complaint brought by private companies against a public entity for abuse of administrative monopoly in the railway transport industry (Taiyuan Railway Bureau)
University of Melbourne
Australia 103 contributions 29667 visits
,
China Competition Bulletin (Beijing)
China 101 contributions 26620 visits
,
Institute of American Studies (Beijing)
China 52 contributions 15435 visits
Taiyuan Railway Bureau Sued for Monopoly* On 7 September 2011, the Shanxi Joint Transport Group Co., Ltd. brought an administrative lawsuit in the Taiyuan Xinghualing District People’s Court against the Taiyuan Railway Bureau for breaches of the AML and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law (...)

A Chinese District People’s court receives a complaint brought by private enterprises against a public entity for abuse of dominance in the railway transport sector (Taiyuan Railway Bureau)
AnJie Broad Law (Beijing)
China 44 contributions 12555 visits
Taiyuan Railway Bureau is Sued by Private Enterprises Alleged Monopoly* On September 7th, 2011, an antitrust litigation against Taiyuan Railway Bureau was brought to Taiyuan Xinghualing Court on the ground that Taiyuan Railway Bureau violated Anti-monopoly Law and Unfair Competition Law of (...)

Mergers

 The Turkish Competition Authority authorizes a joint control acquisition in the sector of manufacture and sale of components and systems for automotive and motor vehicles (Mahle / Behr)
Erdem & Erdem (Istanbul)
Turkey 67 contributions 75979 visits
The Competition Board (the “Board”) authorized, under Act No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition numbered 4054 (the “Competition Act”) and the Communiqué No: 2010/4 Concerning the Mergers and Acquisitions Calling for the Authorization of the Competition Board (the “Merger Communiqué”), the (...)

The Bosnian & Herzegovinian Competition Authority issues an opinion in relation to the application of merger notification thresholds in cases involving foreign companies with or without presence on the domestic market (Schoenherr)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 226057 visits
On 29 September 2011 the Competition Authority of Bosnia & Herzegovina (KV) issued an opinion in relation to the application of merger notification thresholds in cases involving foreign companies with or without presence on the domestic market. The KV’s opinion was prompted by the (...)

The Spanish Antitrust Authority adopts communications on termination of proceedings by commitments and on short-form notification of concentrations
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220031 visits
Spain: The CNC adopts Communications on Termination of Proceedings by Commitments and on Short-Form Notification of Concentrations* The Spanish antitrust authority, the Comisión Nacional de la Competencia (CNC) has approved two Communications on 28 September 2011. The first Communication (...)

The French Competition Authority fines a media group for breach of merger commitments and requires unwinding or re-notifying merger (TPS / Canal Sat)
Jones Day (Paris)
France 12 contributions 27140 visits
In an unprecedented decision, on September 20, 2011, the French Competition Authority (Autorité de la concurrence) withdrew the authorization granted in 2006 for Canal Plus to merge with TPS, on the ground that Canal Plus Group subsequently breached some of the conditions of the merger (...)

The French Competition Authority withdraws its authorisation of an undertaking’s purchase of rival commercial television company in the TV market and imposes a €30 m fine for failing to fulfill the 59 remedies imposed by the Authority (Canal Plus / TPS)
Franklin (Paris)
France 34 contributions 21957 visits
,
UK Competition & Markets Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 20 contributions 7964 visits
WITHDRAWAL OF CLEARANCE DECISION AND EUR 30 MILLION FINE AGAINST CANAL PLUS FOR UNFULFILLED MERGER CLEARANCE COMMITMENTS* The French Competition Authority has taken a hard stance by withdrawing its authorization of French broadcaster Canal Plus’ purchase of rival commercial television (...)

The French Competition Authority fines two media groups for violating merger remedies in the satellite TV sector (TPS / Canal Sat)
EDHEC (Lille)
France 12 contributions 8176 visits
Summary The merger between TPS and Canal Satellite, Vivendi Universal and Canal plus Group’s satellite television subsidiary, was cancelled and the companies had to pay a 30 million euro fine and re-submit their merger. Facts In 2006, Canal plus group and Vivendi Universal group decided (...)

The US DoJ joins seven States to block the proposed merger between two of the four largest national providers in the mobile wireless telecommunication services (AT&T / T-Mobile)
Wolters Kluwer (Riverwoods)
United States 78 contributions 39122 visits
Seven States Join U.S. in Suit to Block AT&T’s Acquisition of T-Mobile* The Attorneys General of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington have signed on to the U.S. Justice Department’s complaint challenging AT&T, Inc.’s proposed $39 billion (...)

The Estonian Competition Authority prohibits a merger between two postal service providers on the basis of the national merger regulation (Aktsiaselts Eesti Post / Express Post)
Law Office FORT (Tallinn)
Estonia 3 contributions 453 visits
On 16 September 2011, the Estonian Competition Authority (ECA) prohibited merger between two postal service providers Aktsiaselts Eesti Post (Eesti Post) and AS Express Post (Express Post) in the second phase. First of all, it should be noted that Eesti Post is a state-owned near-monopoly (...)

The French Competition Authority clears a merger in the catering sector (Sodexo / Lenôtre)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 747 contributions 408004 visits
The Autorité de la concurrence clears the acquisition of Lenôtre by Sodexo*. The Autorité de la concurrence has examined the acquisition of sole control of Lenôtre by Sodexo and authorised the transaction in a decision issued on 15 September 2011. The Sodexo group mainly offers business (...)

The French Competition Authority clears a merger in the home furnishings and interior design retail sector (Cafom / Habitat)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 747 contributions 408004 visits
Press Release published on the official website of the French Competition Authority. The Autorité de la concurrence clears the acquisition of sole control of Habitat by Cafom*. The Autorité de la concurrence has examined the acquisition of sole control of Habitat by Cafom and authorised (...)

The US DoJ announces that it would conditionally approve a proposed merger in the radio advertising market on the divestiture of three radio stations in two overlap markets (Cumulus Media / Citadel Broadcasting)
Washington and Lee University School of Law (Lexington)
United States 11 contributions 9251 visits
,
Cox Media Group (Atlanta)
United States 1 contribution 146 visits
,
US Federal Communications Commission (Washington)
United States 1 contribution 146 visits
On September 8, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Antitrust Division announced that it would condition its approval of Cumulus Media Inc.’s proposed merger with Citadel Broadcasting on the divestiture of three radio stations in two overlap markets . In its court filings, the DOJ (...)

The Belgium Competition Council clears an acquisition in the audiovisual and advertising sector (W&W / Corelio / Sanoma / De Vijver Media)
Baker McKenzie (Brussels)
Belgium 6 contributions 4020 visits
,
Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick (Brussels)
Belgium 3 contributions 378 visits
On 7 September 2011, the Competition Council cleared the acquisition by Waterman & Waterman Comm VA (W&W), Corelio NV (Corelio) and Sanoma Corporation (hereinafter Sanoma) of joint control over De Vijver Media (De Vijver Media), a financial holding company with participations in a (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM issues guidelines on the assessment of mergers under the anti-monopoly law
Jones Day (Shanghai)
China 51 contributions 24065 visits
,
Gibson Dunn (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong 26 contributions 12223 visits
,
Jones Day (Beijing)
China 44 contributions 21045 visits
The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China ("MOFCOM") has published its Interim Rules on the Assessment of the Effects of Concentrations of Undertakings on Competition ("Rules"), effective September 5, 2011. The Rules explain how MOFCOM will assess mergers or other (...)

The Polish Competition Authority conditionally approves a concentration in the cable TV market (UPC Polska/Aster)
Greenberg Traurig (Warsaw)
Poland 30 contributions 80226 visits
,
Hogan Lovells (Warsaw)
Poland 4 contributions 2564 visits
Background On 5th September 2011, the President of the Office for Competition and Consumers Protection (the «OCCP«) issued an administrative decision approving the acquisition of Aster by UPC Polska («UPC«). As a result of the merger UPC will achieve a substantial market position in the area (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM issues new interim provisions on the assessment of anticompetitive effects of mergers
Linklaters (Beijing)
China 17 contributions 8234 visits
,
Linklaters (Shanghai)
China 8 contributions 2334 visits
,
Euclid Law (London)
United Kingdom 16 contributions 5215 visits
…
On 2 September 2011, the PRC Ministry of Commerce (the “MOFCOM”) published on its website the Interim Provisions on Assessment of Competitive Impact of Concentrations of Business Operators (the “Interim Provisions”), which came into effect on 5 September 2011. The Interim Provisions elaborate (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM finalizes new interim provisions on the assessment of anticompetitive effects of mergers
Allen & Overy (Beijing)
China 1 contribution 345 visits
,
Allen & Overy (Beijing)
China 1 contribution 345 visits
,
Allen & Overy (Shanghai)
China 1 contribution 345 visits
…
This article has been nominated for the 2012 Antitrust Writing Awards. Click here to learn more about the Antitrust Writing Awards. On 2 September 2011, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) published Provisional Rules on the Assessment of the Competitive Effects of a Concentration of (...)

The Spanish Competition Commission approves with commitments the concentration of the two main operators in transformation and wholesale rice (EBRO / DEOLEO)
Callol, Coca & Asociados (Madrid)
Spain 170 contributions 47034 visits
The merger consisting of the acquisition by EBRO FOODS, S.A. (EBRO) of DEOLEO, S.A. (DEOLEO) – formerly SOS COPRPORACION ALIMENTARIA, S.A. (SOS) - rice business assets leads to the concentration of the two main operators in transformation and wholesale rice, for its commercialization with (...)

The French Competition Authority clears, subject to commitments, a merger in the retail grocery sector in Martinique (Bernard Hayot / Cora)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 747 contributions 408004 visits
The Autorité de la concurrence clears, subject to commitments, the acquisition of a Cora hypermarket by Groupe Bernard Hayot on Martinique (French West Indies)*. The Autorité de la concurrence is today publishing a decision clearing, subject to commitments, the acquisition by Groupe Bernard (...)

The US District Court for the District of Columbia conditionally approves a joint-venture under behavioral remedies in the online video distribution and video programming industries (Comcast / NBC Universal)
Crowell & Moring (Washington)
United States 4 contributions 1612 visits
,
McDermott Will & Emery (Washington)
United States 8 contributions 1922 visits
,
United Airlines (Chicago)
United States 3 contributions 1324 visits
U.S. antitrust agencies, in a flurry of recent actions, have reinvigorated vertical merger enforcement, claiming competitive harm from what, in the past, would potentially have been viewed as efficiency-enhancing vertical integration. The Department of Justice (“DOJ”), in particular, has (...)

The US District Court for the District of Columbia seeks behavioral remedies before approving a joint-venture to prevent exclusionary conduct in the online video distribution and video programming markets (Comcast / NBC Universal)
American University’s Washington College of Law (Washington)
United States 4 contributions 10277 visits
The Federal Communication Commission’s recent decision to allow the transaction between Comcast and General Electric’s NBC Universal (NBCU) affiliate to proceed subject to conditions helped to fill a gap in the contemporary treatment of vertical mergers. The existence of this gap was (...)

State Aid

 The EU General Court rules that the Commission failed its duty to act following a complaint by low cost airline against alleged State aid to Italian airlines (Ryanair)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 155 contributions 34875 visits
On 29 September 2011, the General Court handed down its judgment concerning complaints by Ryanair concerning alleged state aid to Italian airlines. The General Court found that the Commission had failed in its duty to act on the complaints. The case stems from letters sent by the low (...)

Procedures

 The Irish Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation publishes a new competition bill to strengthen competition law enforcement
University of East Anglia
United Kingdom 29 contributions 26496 visits
Article published on Centre for Competition Policy blog. Will IMF Requirement that Ireland Strengthen Competition Law Sanctions Actually Make a Difference?* The Republic of Ireland is facing the most serious economic crisis in its history. In order to deal with its sovereign debt crisis, (...)

The EU Court of Human Rights confirms that the Italian antitrust fining regime is compatible with human rights (Menarini)
Luiss Guido Carli University (Rome)
Italy 12 contributions 1778 visits
On 27 September 2011 the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR or the Court) ruled the Italian system of antitrust sanctions to be compliant with the law of fundamental rights. Specifically, the ECHR deemed the Italian system, consisting of a decision by the Italian Competition Authority (...)

The Croatian Competition Authority publishes the results of the 2010 sector inquiry on the market for milk and dairy products
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 226057 visits
On 21 September 2011 the Croatian Competition Authority (AZTN) released the results of the sector inquiry on the market for milk and dairy products. The report is based on the data collected from 48 undertakings active on the market for purchasing raw milk from the producers and 14 (...)

The German Competition Authority initiates a sector inquiry in the food retail sector by sending questionnaires to retailers and producers in the food and beverages industry
McDermott Will & Emery (Paris)
France 136 contributions 68321 visits
GERMAN COMPETITION AUTHORITY STARTS SECTOR INQUIRY INTO FOOD RETAIL* The German Competition Authority has started a sector inquiry in the food retail sector yesterday and has sent questionnaires to 21 retailers and over 200 producers in the food and beverages industry. According to the (...)

Regulatory

 The French Competition Authority publishes two opinions concerning new market entrants’ access to passenger railway stations
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 747 contributions 408004 visits
The Autorité de la concurrence publishes two opinions concerning new entrants accessing passenger railway stations. It invites public authorities to prepare for the next stage of the opening up to competition but also, henceforth, to establish minimum safeguards in view of the 2011-2012 (...)

The Irish Government approves legislation to eliminate restrictions on family doctors wishing to treat public patients (General Medical Practitioners)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220031 visits
Ireland: Government approves Legislation to eliminate Restrictions on Family Doctors wishing to treat Public Patients* On 14 September 2011, the Irish Government has approved the drafting of a Bill which will remove restrictions on Family Doctors (called General Medical Practitioners (GPs)) (...)

The German Competition Authority publishes its third report on the energy markets
Bird & Bird (Dusseldorf)
Germany 19 contributions 4020 visits
2011 Monopolies Commission Report on Competition in Gas and Electricity Markets* The Monopolies Commission (Monopolkommission) has presented its third report on the energy markets, entitled “Energy 2011: Development of Competition with Light and Shade” (“Energie 2011: Wettbewerbsentwicklung (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM publishes the final rules on the national security review of foreign investment in national companies
Jones Day (Shanghai)
China 51 contributions 24065 visits
,
Gibson Dunn (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong 26 contributions 12223 visits
,
Jones Day (Beijing)
China 44 contributions 21045 visits
…
China has published new rules to implement the national security review that will be conducted as part of the review of mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors and involving Chinese companies. These rules provide for review and potential rejection of acquisitions of Chinese companies by (...)