Exchange of information

Anticompetitive practices

 The French Competition Authority fines national security provider for issuing cover quotes in the tobacconist security provision sector (Double Tour)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251619 visits
The Autorité de la concurrence fines Double Tour for issuing cover quotes in the tobacconist security provision sector* Following an investigation by the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) into the tobacconist security provision sector, (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes a €435.000 fine on a construction company for exchanging information (Santerne Nord Tertiaire)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251619 visits
City of Lille’s call for tenders: Santerne (Vinci group) fined up to €435,000 The Autorité de la concurrence fines Santerne Nord Tertiaire (subsidiary of the Vinci group) €435,000 for exchanging information with another company in a call for tenders organised by the city of Lille (Communauté (...)

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal upholds the Competition Authority’s finding that a pharmaceutical company broke competition law by exchanging information (Lexon)
United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 216 contributions 43493 visits
Tribunal upholds CMA decision on pharma collusion and £1.2m fine The Competition Appeal Tribunal has today upheld the CMA’s finding that Lexon broke competition law, dismissing Lexon’s appeal. Last year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) concluded its investigation into the supply of (...)

The Hong Kong Competition Authority issues infringement notices to six hotel groups and a tour operator for facilitating cartel conduct
Ashurst (Singapore)
Singapour 6 contributions 12219 visites
On 26 January 2021, Hong Kong’s Competition Commission (HKCC) issued infringement notices to six hotel groups and a tour operator for facilitating a cartel arrangement between two competing travel service providers, which fixed the prices of tourist attractions and transportation tickets in Hong (...)

The French Supreme Court rules that an undertaking continues to be involved in a cartel if it keeps receiving invitations to participate without clearly distancing itself and makes other participants interpret that it shares their objectives (Goodmills Deutschland / Grands moulins de Paris)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
France 12 contributions 1138 visits
On 10 February 2021, the French Supreme Court (Cour de cassation) ruled that an undertaking continues to be involved in a cartel if it keeps receiving invitations to participate without clearly distancing itself and when other participants interpret that this undertaking shares their (...)

The German Competition Authority fines steel forging companies for illegal exchange of information (CDP Bharat Forge / Bharat Forge CDP / Johann Hay Automobiltechnik)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 19 contributions 1302 visits
According to a press release issued on 4 February 2021, the German Federal Cartel Office (“FCO”) fined three steel forging companies and two responsible individuals a total amount of approximately € 35 million for anti-competitive information exchange between October 2002 and December 2018. (...)

The German Competition Authority imposes fines to three steel forging companies for exchanging information (Bharat Forge Global / Musashi Bockenau / Bad Sobernheim)
German Competition Authority (Bonn)
Germany 332 contributions 68907 visits
Bundeskartellamt imposes fines on steel forging companies* The Bundeskartellamt has imposed fines totalling approx. 35 million euros on three steel forging companies and two senior staff members for their involvement in an anti-competitive exchange of information. The companies concerned are (...)

The Romanian Competition Authority fines national association and 16 financial companies EUR 8.47 million for exchanging information (ALB / BCR Leasing / BRD Sogelease)
Romanian Competition Council (Bucharest)
Romania 64 contributions 12551 visits
The Competition Council has fined the Romanian Association of Financial Companies and 16 financial companies euro 8.47 million* The Competition Council has fined the Association of Romanian Financial Companies (hereinafter ALB) and 16 member companies lei 41,251,774 (approx. Euro 8.47 million) (...)

The French Competition Authority dismisses the thermal insulation case (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment / Saint-Gobain Isover / Syndicat National des Fabricants d’Isolants en Laines Minérales Manufacturées)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251619 visits
The Autorité de la concurrence dismisses the thermal insulation case* Background In response to a referral by the French Minister of the Economy and the company Actis regarding practices in the sector of thermal insulation for buildings by the Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines three solid fuel cartels and five directors €3.7 million (FISL / Grafitos / Toro)
Ashurst (Madrid)
Spain 10 contributions 916 visits
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Ashurst (Madrid)
Espagne 7 contributions 763 visites
The Spanish competition authority ("CNMC") has fined six companies and five directors participating in three cartels, breaching EU and Spanish antitrust rules by fixing prices and other commercial conditions, sharing customers and exchanging commercially sensitive information for almost 20 (...)

The Polish Competition Authority fines several fitness chains for collusion (Benefit Systems / Bartosz Gibała / Platinium Wellness)
Polish Competition Authority (Warsaw)
Poland 56 contributions 7194 visits
Collusion on the fitness market - decision by the President of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny, the President of UOKiK, has imposed over PLN 32 million in financial penalties on the largest fitness chains, including Benefit Systems (operator of MultiSport cards) for a competition-restricting collusion (...)

The German Competition Authority fines five aluminium forging companies and ten responsible individuals for price fixing (Otto Fuchs / Leiber / Emmingen-Liptingen)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 19 contributions 1302 visits
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Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 17 contributions 1716 visits
On 23 December 2020, the German Federal Cartel Office (“FCO”) announced that it had fined five aluminium forging companies and ten responsible individuals a total amount of approximately € 175 million for price fixing between April 2006 and April 2018. Automotive and motorcycle manufacturers and (...)

The German Competition Authority fines five aluminium forging companies and ten employees responsible for engaging in illegal anti-competitive agreements (Otto Fuchs / Leiber / Emmingen-Liptingen..)
German Competition Authority (Bonn)
Germany 332 contributions 68907 visits
Bundeskartellamt - Cartel Prosecution* Fines imposed on aluminium forging companies on account of anti-competitive agreements Bonn, 23 December 2020: The Bundeskartellamt has imposed fines totalling approximately 175 million euros on five aluminium forging companies and ten employees (...)

The UK Competition Authority fines suppliers of groundworks products to the construction industry for coordinating their commercial activities (Vp plc / M.G.F.)
Ashurst (London)
United Kingdom 15 contributions 3448 visits
On 17 December 2020, the CMA issued a decision finding that three UK-based suppliers of groundworks products to the UK construction industry had illegally colluded in order to reduce competition and maintain or increase prices, in breach of Chapter 1 of the Competition Act 1998 and Article 101 (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority takes legal action against a company in the cheese and dairy industry for exchanging strategic information with a competitor in connection to a public procurement (Arla Foods)
Swedish Competition Authority (Stockholm)
Sweden 55 contributions 7008 visits
The Swedish Competition Authority takes legal action against Arla Foods for unlawful cooperation*. According to the Swedish Competition Authority, Arla Foods has participated in an unlawful cooperation by exchanging strategic information with a competitor in the connection to a public (...)

The US DoJ brings criminal charges for wage fixing on therapist staffing companies (Neeraj Jindal)
Jones Day (Washington DC)
États-Unis 1 contribution 62 visites
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Jones Day (San Francisco)
États-Unis 3 contributions 697 visites
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Jones Day (Houston)
États-Unis 28 contributions 13308 visites
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The Department of Justice Antitrust Division ("DOJ") has indicted a Texas businessman for conspiring with competitors to fix employee wages in violation of the Sherman Act. This action challenges particularly blatant conduct, but is consistent with recent attention to antitrust in employment (...)

The US DoJ remains committed to prosecuting collusion in labor markets to reduce employee wages (Neeraj Jindal)
Covington & Burling (Washington)
États-Unis 1 contribution 106 visites
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Covington & Burling (Washington)
United States 12 contributions 9174 visits
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Covington & Burling (Washington)
United States 2 contributions 140 visits
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On December 10th, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice announced its first criminal indictment targeting an alleged conspiracy to reduce employee wages. The DOJ charged the former owner of a therapist staffing company with conspiring to reduce pay rates for healthcare worker (...)

The US DoJ indicates the owner of a therapist staffing company on wage-fixing charges (Neeraj Jindal)
Morgan Lewis (San Francisco)
États-Unis 1 contribution 59 visites
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Morgan Lewis (Silicon Valley)
United States 8 contributions 1380 visits
A federal grand jury in Texas indicted the owner of a therapist staffing company on wage-fixing charges on December 9. Although this is the US Department of Justice’s first criminal wage-fixing prosecution, the indictment underscores that enforcement agencies remain focused on policing these (...)

The Czech Competition Authority imposes fines for IT cartel agreement (Autocont / Tesco / Asseco Central Europe)
Czech Competition Authority (Brno)
Czech Republic 22 contributions 3328 visits
Office imposed fines for IT cartel agreement in total amount of CSK 75 million* By its first-instance decision of 7 December 2020, the Office for the Protection of Competition imposed fines in the total amount of CZK 74,622,000 on AUTOCONT a.s., TESCO SW a.s., ICZ a.s., MERIT GROUP a.s., (...)

The Singaporean Competition Authority reduces fines by 20% to 70% imposed on distributors of fresh chicken engaged in a cartel (Gold Chic Poultry / Hua Kun / Toh Thye San Farm / Lee Say...)
Ashurst (Singapore)
Singapour 6 contributions 12219 visites
On 4 December 2020, Singapore’s Competition Appeal Board (CAB) reduced penalties imposed on eight out of thirteen distributors of fresh chicken found to have engaged in cartel conduct in September 2018. The reduction in fines ranged from 20% to 70%. What you need to know - key takeaways While (...)

The Mexican Competition Authority issues warnings about the consequences of a possible price increase resulting from agreements between competitors in the food production sector
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexico 83 contributions 15031 visits
COFECE warns several associations of tortilla producers about the consequences of a possible price increase if this is the result of an agreement between competitors* The price established by each tortilla producer must be an individual determination COFECE’s Investigative Authority could (...)

The Norwegian Competition Authority fines two companies in the alarm sector for engaging in market sharing practices (Verisure / Sector Alarm)
Norwegian Competition Authority
Norway 14 contributions 1600 visits
Fines exceeding 1 billion NOK in total imposed on Verisure and Sector Alarm* The Norwegian Competition Authority has today imposed a fine of 766 million NOK on Verisure AS and last year a fine of 467.3 million NOK on Sector Alarm for collusion in the market for the provision of alarm services (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority reduces fine for price fixing due to the effects of COVID-19 pandemic (Theatrical Film Distribution / NCG Distribution / Forum Cinemas) Free
Commonwealth Secretariat (London)
Royaume-Uni 35 contributions 15589 visites
It was a classic case of a price fixing cartel brought to the competition authority’s attention by a potential victim. The Lithuanian competition authority, Konkurencijos taryba, or Competition Council of the Republic of Lithuania (‘Competition Council’), announced on 25 November 2020 that its (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority reduces fines imposed on a cartel of cinema companies as a measure against the COVID-19 pandemic (Theatrical Film Distribution / NCG Distribution / Forum Cinemas) Free
Lithuanian Competition Authority (Vilnius)
Lithuania 73 contributions 10628 visits
As a Result of COVID-19 Pandemic, Lithuanian Competition Council Reduces Fines Imposed on Cinema Companies That Formed Cartel* The Lithuanian competition authority Konkurencijos taryba has found that the film distributor Theatrical Film Distribution and the firms NCG Distribution and Forum (...)

The Polish Competition Authority conducts dawn raids and initiates explanatory proceedings against pharmaceutical wholesalers for allegations of exchange of information and price fixing (Neuca Spółka Akcyjna / Przedsiębiorstwo Dystrybucji Farmaceutycznej Slawex / Farmacol Serwis / Farmacol Logistyka)
Polish Competition Authority (Warsaw)
Poland 56 contributions 7194 visits
Do pharmaceutical wholesalers increase drug prices by exchanging information?* Could unfair market practices, resulting in higher drug prices and restriction of competition, be facilitated by the IT systems used by pharmaceutical wholesalers? President of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny has initiated (...)

The Slovak Competition Authority fines three undertakings for a cartel agreement in the area of supplies of machines and mechanical and technological equipment
Slovak Competition Authority (Bratislava)
Slovakia 25 contributions 3012 visits
AMO SR decided to impose fines on three undertakings for a cartel agreement in the area of supplies of machines and mechanical and technological equipment* On 18 November 2020 the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic, the Division of Cartels, (hereafter "the Office") issued a decision, (...)

The Italian Competition Authority opens investigation into insurance association’s "fraud detection project" in non-life and life insurance for possible competitive concerns (ANIA)
Italian Competition Authority (Rome)
Italy 45 contributions 8801 visits
ICA: Investigation launched against ANIA regarding the ’fraud detection project’ in non-life and life insurance* The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato initiated an investigation against the Associazione Nazionale fra le Imprese Assicuratrici (ANIA), which originates from a (...)

The Norwegian Competition Authority carries out unannounced inspections in the sea freight market
Norwegian Competition Authority
Norway 14 contributions 1600 visits
Inspections in the market for sea freight* The Norwegian Competition Authority has carried out unannounced inspections in the market for sea freight. – The Competition Authority has concerns that companies in the market for sea freight may have exchanged competitively sensitive information (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority allows insurers to introduce a joint scheme for handling vehicle-damage claims
Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (The Hague)
Netherlands 135 contributions 18445 visits
ACM: insurers are allowed to introduce joint scheme for handling vehicle-damage claims* Insurers in the Netherlands are allowed to introduce a scheme that will enable them to handle cases involving damage to vehicles in a faster and more simplified manner. Currently, consumers that have (...)

The UK Competition Authority issues fines of over £9 million for roofing lead cartel (Associated Lead Mills / BLM British Lead)
United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 216 contributions 43493 visits
CMA issues fines of over £9m for roofing lead cartel* The CMA has imposed fines totalling more than £9m on 2 of the UK’s largest suppliers of rolled lead, for breaking competition law. Following an investigation into suspected cartel conduct, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found (...)

The UK Competition Authority fines two suppliers of rolled lead for entering into anticompetitive arrangements (Associated Lead Mills / BLM British Lead)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 17 contributions 1116 visits
On 4 November 2020, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) imposed fines totalling £9.5 million on two of the UK’s largest rolled lead suppliers for their role in a roofing lead cartel. The CMA fined Associated Lead Mills Ltd and H.J. Enthoven Ltd (trading as BLM British Lead) £1.5 (...)

The Hong Kong Competition Authority welcomes the Competition Tribunal’s judgment against an IT cartel for price-fixing in the first case where the liability and relief portions of the proceedings have been resolved by settlement (Quantr / Cheung Man Kit / Nintex)
Hong Kong Competition Commission
Hong Kong 23 contributions 3999 visites
Competition Commission welcomes judgment in IT cartel conduct case* The Competition Commission (Commission) welcomes the judgment handed down by the Competition Tribunal (Tribunal) today (3 November) in proceedings involving the exchange of competitively sensitive information in the IT sector. (...)

The Austrian Competition Authority files an application to fine four construction companies for price fixing, market division, and other anti-competitive conduct
Austrian Competition Authority (Vienna)
Austria 15 contributions 2025 visits
AFCA files application to fine four construction companies for price fixing, market division and other anti-competitive conduct* The alleged infringements include price fixing, market divison and the exchange of competitively sensitive information. On 29 October 2020 the Austrian Federal (...)

The Italian Administrative Court of First Instance annuls the Competition Authority decision sanctioning a cartel of car manufacturers because of a breach of the parties’ right to a reasonable duration of the proceedings and for failing to characterize the ’by object’ restriction (Car Finance)
Ashurst (Milan)
Italy 100 contributions 23628 visits
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Ashurst (Brussels)
Belgium 43 contributions 41635 visits
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Ashurst (Brussels)
Belgium 10 contributions 4266 visits
On 21 October 2020 the Italian Administrative Court of First Instance ("TAR Lazio") annulled the decision issued by the Italian Competition Authority ("ICA") on 20 December 2018 sanctioning a number of car manufacturers and their "captive banks" in relation to an alleged cartel concerning car (...)

The Polish Competition Authority obliges an association of marketing agencies to stop affecting its members’ independence in tenders and stop organizing unauthorized exchanges of information (Marketing Communication Association SAR)
Polish Competition Authority (Warsaw)
Poland 56 contributions 7194 visits
Marketing Communication Association SAR to change its practices* The Marketing Communication Association SAR affected the independence of its members in tenders and organized unauthorized exchange of information. President of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny has obliged the Association to change its (...)

The Australian Competition Authority commences civil proceedings in the Federal Court against overhead crane company over alleged market sharing cartel (NQCranes)
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (Canberra)
Australia 225 contributions 33499 visits
Action over alleged market sharing cartel in the overhead crane industry* The ACCC has today commenced civil proceedings in the Federal Court against overhead crane company NQCranes Pty Ltd, alleging it engaged in cartel conduct in contravention of the Competition and Consumer Act. The ACCC (...)

The EU General Court partially annuls Commission’s decision authorizing unannounced dawn raids to be carried out at the headquarters of two French food retail chains (Casino, Guichard-Perrachon / Achats Marchandises Casino) (Intermarché Casino Achats) (Les Mousquetaires / ITM Entreprises)
Dechert (Paris)
France 33 contributions 44712 visits
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Dechert (Paris)
France 1 contribution 145 visites
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Dechert (Paris)
France 8 contributions 5580 visites
In three recent judgments issued on 5 October 2020, the General Court of the European Union ("GCEU") partially annulled the European Commission’s ("Commission") decisions of February 2017 which had authorized onsite unannounced inspections ("dawn raid”) to be carried out at the headquarters of (...)

The EU General Court partially annuls the Commission decision ordering inspections at French food retail chains headquarters (Casino, Guichard-Perrachon / Achats Marchandises Casino) (Intermarché Casino Achats) (Les Mousquetaires / ITM Entreprises)
Ashurst (Paris)
France 38 contributions 40277 visits
On 5 October 2020, the EU General Court ("GC") partially annulled European Commission ("Commission") decisions ordering inspections at ITM and Casino’s premises in 2017 following suspicions of illegal anticompetitive exchanges of competitively sensitive information. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW - KEY (...)

The EU General Court partially annuls the decisions of the Commission to order dawn raids of a number of French retailers (Casino, Guichard-Perrachon / Achats Marchandises Casino) (Intermarché Casino Achats) (Les Mousquetaires / ITM Entreprises)
White & Case (Brussels)
Belgium 21 contributions 6003 visits
Partial annulment of European Commission decisions to order dawn raid inspections* On 5 October 2020, the General Court of the European Union (GC) partially annulled decisions of the European Commission (EC) to order on-the-spot inspections (dawn raids) of a number of French retailers.. The (...)

The EU General Court partially annuls decisions ordering dawn raids at the headquarters of two French food retail chains (Casino, Guichard-Perrachon / Achats Marchandises Casino) (Intermarché Casino Achats) (Les Mousquetaires / ITM Entreprises)
Covington & Burling (Brussels)
Belgium 31 contributions 9586 visits
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Covington & Burling (Brussels)
Belgique 1 contribution 70 visites
In three related judgments of October 5, 2020 (T-249/17, T-254/17 and T-255/17) the General Court (the “GC”) partially annulled European Commission inspection decisions which were the basis for dawn raids on several French retailers. The judgments further develop the position adopted in Czech (...)

The EU General Court annuls in part the Commission’s inspection decisions following suspicions of anticompetitive practices by several French undertakings in the distribution sector (Casino, Guichard-Perrachon / Achats Marchandises Casino) (Intermarché Casino Achats) (Les Mousquetaires / ITM Entreprises)
General Court of the European Union (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 23 contributions 5322 visits
The General Court annuls in part the Commission’s inspection decisions following suspicions of anticompetitive practices by a number of French undertakings in the distribution sector* The Commission has failed to show that it had sufficiently strong evidence to suspect exchanges of information (...)

The EU General Court partially annuls the Commission inspection decisions ordering several French undertakings active in the distribution sector to submit to dawn-raid inspections (Casino, Guichard-Perrachon / Achats Marchandises Casino) (Intermarché Casino Achats) (Les Mousquetaires / ITM Entreprises)
Bird & Bird (Rome)
Italy 17 contributions 1960 visits
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Bird & Bird (Rome)
Italy 25 contributions 2413 visits
In October 2020, the General Court of the European Union (GC) issued an important decision in the joined Casino cases which promises to ensure that competition investigations will be more robust and afford greater protection to companies‘ rights. Both the European Commission (EC) and companies (...)

The EU Commission fines car parts suppliers €18 million in cartel settlement in the market for closure systems for cars (Brose / Kiekert / Magna)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 794 contributions 1702653 visits
Antitrust: Commission fines car parts suppliers of € 18 million in cartel settlement* The European Commission has fined Brose and Kiekert a total of € 18 million for taking part in two cartels concerning supplies of closure systems for cars in the European Economic Area (EEA). Magna was not (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority fines 4 cigarette manufacturers EUR 88 million for distorting competition through exchange of information through third parties (British American Tobacco / JT International / Phillip Morris / Van Nelle Tabak)
Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (The Hague)
Netherlands 135 contributions 18446 visits
Four cigarette manufacturers fined 82 million euros for distorting competition* The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has imposed fines totaling more than 82 million euros on four major cigarette manufacturers. Between July 2008 and July 2011, they distorted competition. (...)

The Norwegian Competition Authority considers imposing fines on four publishers and a book database company for illegally sharing competitive sensitive information (Cappelen Damm / Forlagshuset Vigmostad & Bjørke / Gyldendal / Aschehoug / Bokbasen)
Norwegian Competition Authority
Norway 14 contributions 1600 visits
Considers imposing fines on five companies in the book market totalling NOK 502 million* The Norwegian Competition Authority warns in a statement of objections that it considers imposing fines of NOK 502 million in total on the four publishers Cappelen Damm, Forlagshuset Vigmostad & Bjørke, (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority launches an investigation against two marketing undertakings that may have allocated the market (Star Network / 4KIDS)
Hungarian Competition Authority (Budapest)
Hungary 60 contributions 10398 visits
The Competition Authority has launched an investigation against two marketing undertakings that may have allocated the market* The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) has initiated a proceeding against Star Network MCN Szolgáltató Kft. and 4KIDS Meseportál Kft. due to concerns that the (...)

The Dutch District Court of Noord-Nederland holds personally liable a former director of the North Sea shrimps cartel (Gerard Willem Breuker)
Bird & Bird (Amsterdam)
Netherlands 6 contributions 1681 visits
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Bird & Bird (The Hague)
Netherlands 11 contributions 2992 visits
Introduction On 23 September 2020 a former director of one of the North Sea shrimps cartelists was held personally liable for damage of over € 13 million by the Dutch District Court of Noord-Nederland (“Court”). According to the Court, the director’s personal involvement in the cartel qualified as (...)

The French Competition Authority sanctions three professional organisations for anticompetitive practices in the wine sector (AVA / GPNVA / CIVA)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251619 visits
Alsace wines: The Autorité sanctions three professional organisations for anticompetitive practices* Following evidence and documents sent by the French Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF), the Autorité sanctioned two trade associations, the (...)

The US District Court for the Southern District of Georgia indicts ready-mix concrete company and individuals for price-fixing and bid-rigging (Evans Concrete)
US Department of Justice - Antitrust Division (Washington)
United States 80 contributions 17999 visits
Ready-Mix Concrete Company And Individuals Indicted For Fixing Prices And Rigging Bids In Violation Of Antitrust Laws* A federal grand jury returned an indictment against one company and four individuals for their roles in a long-running conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate markets (...)

The Norwegian Court of Appeal in Borgarting upholds the Competition Authority’s decision finding an illegal cooperation between 2 publishing companies (Cappelen Damm / Gyldendal)
Norwegian Competition Authority
Norway 14 contributions 1600 visits
Court of Appeal upholds decision against publishing companies* Borgarting Court of Appeal agrees with the Norwegian Competition Authority that the publishing companies Cappelen Damm and Gyldendal cooperated illegally and boycotted the distributor Interpress. The publishers exchanged (...)

The Mexican Competition Authority fines 11 companies and 14 individuals for colluding in public tenders for services of laboratory tests and blood banks (Selecciones Médicas / Vitalmex / Centrum / Impromed / Falcón ...)
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexique 83 contributions 15027 visites
COFECE fines companies and natural persons for colluding in tenders for services for laboratory tests and blood banks convened by IMSS and ISSSTE* The Board of Commissioners determined that 11 companies and 14 natural persons coordinated their bids or abstained from bidding in several tenders (...)

The US DoJ issues a letter for monoclonal antibody manufacturers to expand their production and allows exchange of information during the COVID-19 pandemic Free
US Department of Justice - Antitrust Division (Washington)
United States 80 contributions 17999 visits
Department Of Justice Issues Business Review Letter To Monoclonal Antibody Manufacturers To Expedite And Increase The Production Of Covid-19 Mab Treatments* The United States Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge proposed efforts by Eli Lilly and Company, AbCellera (...)

The Singapore Competition Authority issues a guidance note on collaborations between competitors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic Free
Bird & Bird (Singapore)
Singapore 4 contributions 180 visits
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Bird & Bird (Singapore)
Singapore 5 contributions 232 visits
COVID-19 has presented significant economic challenges to businesses across all industries, disrupting daily operations and global supply chains. During this time, temporary collaborations among competitors have become an important means of sustaining or improving the supply of essential goods (...)

The French Competition Authority fines 12 manufacturers for cartel in the ham and cold meat sector (Charcuterie cartel)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visites
The Autorité hands out fines worth 93 million euros to a cartel in the ham and cold meats (charcuterie) sector* The manufactures involved (“cold meat manufacturers”) worked in concert in order to purchase cuts of ham from slaughterhouses at lower prices and/or were fixing the price increases for (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes € 93 million fine on cartel in ham and cold meat sector (Charcuterie cartel)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
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Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgique 4 contributions 293 visites
On 16 July 2020, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) imposed a € 93 million fine on twelve ham and cold meats manufacturers (Cooperl Arc Atlantique, Les Mousquetaires, Fleury Michon, Coop, Savencia, Campofrio, Aubret, Sonical, La Financiere du Haut Pays, CA Animation, Nestle, Salaison du (...)

The French Competition Authority fines twelve undertakings for taking part in a double-sided cold meat cartel (Charcuterie cartel)
Ashurst (Paris)
France 38 contributions 40277 visites
The French Competition Authority ("FCA") has fined twelve undertakings involved in a cartel at multiple levels of the ham and cold meats sector. On 16 July 2020, the FCA issued a decision (n°20-D-09) imposing fines to 12 undertakings which were party to a cartel in the ham and cold meats sector (...)

The EU Commission fines ethylene purchasers €260 million in a cartel settlement (Orbia / Clariant / Calanese / Westlake)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
On 14 July 2020, the European Commission (the “Commission”) announced that it had adopted a decision fin‐ ing three ethylene purchasers a total of € 260,443,000. The companies concerned namely, Orbia (Mexico), Clari‐ ant (Switzerland), Calanese (United States) and Westlake (United States), were (...)

The EU Commission fines ethylene purchasers for having colluded and exchanged information on purchase prices (Orbia / Clariant / Celanese / Westlake)
Ashurst (Brussels)
Belgium 43 contributions 41635 visits
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Ashurst (London)
United Kingdom 29 contributions 3513 visits
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Ashurst (London)
Royaume-Uni 15 contributions 3447 visites
Fines for ethylene purchasing cartel On 14 July 2020, the European Commission ("Commission") fined ethylene purchasers Orbia, Clariant and Celanese EUR 260 million for having colluded and exchanged information on purchase prices on the ethylene merchant market with a fourth participant, (...)

The EU Commission fines ethylene purchasers €260 million in cartel settlement for colluding to buy at the lowest possible price (Orbia / Clariant / Celanese / Westlake)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgique 794 contributions 1702594 visites
Antitrust: Commission fines ethylene purchasers € 260 million in cartel settlement* The European Commission has fined Orbia, Clariant and Celanese a total of € 260 million for breaching EU antitrust rules. Westlake was not fined as it revealed the cartel to the Commission. The companies took (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority fines 2 interior design companies with over SEK 500,000 for coordinating sales prices of furniture (Artilleriet Interiors / Royal Design Group)
Swedish Competition Authority (Stockholm)
Suède 55 contributions 7006 visites
Two companies consensually agree to pay administrative fines for engaging in unlawful cooperation* Two companies engaged in the sale of interior design, furniture, and home furnishing have consented to pay a fine order from the Swedish Competition Authority. The companies coordinated some of (...)

The Japanese FTC issues a cease and desist order against 3 distributors of high school uniforms in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture for engaging in anticompetitive conduct (Gakuseinomise Mikusa Toyotaten / Kondo Yofukuten / Nonoyama Yofuku)
Japan Fair Trade Commission (Tokyo)
Japon 115 contributions 18517 visites
JFTC Issued Cease and Desist Orders against Uniform Distributors of Aichi Prefectural High Schools in Toyota City* JFTC today issued cease and desist orders pursuant to the provision of Paragraph 2, Article 7 of the Antimonopoly Act (hereinafter referred to as “AMA”) against the uniform (...)

The Danish Competition Authority finds the exchange of information on prices, discounts and quantities in relation to future sales between retailers of clothing items illegal (Hugo Boss / Kaufmann) (Hugo Boss / Ginsborg)
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Denmark 104 contributions 26148 visits
The Danish Competition Council has adopted a decision finding the exchange of information on prices, discounts and quantities in relation to future sales between retailers of clothing items illegal* On June 24 2020, the Danish Competition Council (DCC) adopted two separate decisions concerning (...)

The Danish Competition Authority orders a fashion company to stop anti-competitive information exchange with its retailers (Hugo Boss / Kaufmann) (Hugo Boss / Ginsborg)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 149 contributions 45009 visits
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Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgique 7 contributions 671 visites
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Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgique 1 contribution 88 visites
On 24 June 2020, the Danish Competition Council (“DCC”) adopted two separate decisions concerning anticompetitive conduct engaged in: (i) between the clothing manufacturer, supplier and retailer Hugo Boss Nordic ApS (“Hugo Boss”) and the retailer Axel Kaufmann ApS (“Kaufmann”) and (ii) between Hugo (...)

The Czech Competition Authority imposes fines for illegal cartel agreement in the rail freight transport market (AWT / Interfracht / Argo Logistics / Spedica)
Bird & Bird (Prague)
Czech Republic 24 contributions 2433 visits
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Bird & Bird (Prague)
République tchèque 13 contributions 1769 visites
On 22 June 2020 the Czech Office for the Protection of Competition (Office) published a press release (without publishing the full decision yet) regarding fines imposed for concluding and executing a prohibited cartel agreement regarding train projects Carpathia, Sylvania, and New Carpathia. (...)

The US District Court for the Northern District of California announces a $100,000 fine and sentences to 40 months in prison a former CEO for his role in a tuna price-fixing conspiracy involving two competitors (Bumble Bee Foods)
Hogan Lovells (Washington)
États-Unis 1 contribution 262 visites
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Hogan Lovells (Washington)
United States 3 contributions 470 visits
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Hogan Lovells (Washington)
United States 5 contributions 1184 visits
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On 16 June 2020, the former CEO of Bumble Bee Foods LLC was sentenced to 40 months in prison and fined US$100,000 for his role in a tuna price-fixing conspiracy involving two competitors. This sentence is one of the most significant penalties ever imposed on a corporate executive in a criminal (...)

The UK Competition Authority updates its investigation of roofing cartel with new provisional findings and secures admission of guilt by the country’s two largest suppliers of rolled lead (Associated Lead Mills / BLM British Lead)
United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 216 contributions 43484 visits
Two UK roofing lead firms admit to illegal cartel* Two of the UK’s largest suppliers of rolled lead have admitted to taking part in anti-competitive arrangements and could face fines of more than £11 million. Rolled lead is an important product for the construction industry, used mainly for (...)

The Indian Competition Authority finds four automotive and industrial bearing companies to have engaged in price-fixing and directs them to cease and desist from their collusive behaviour (Schaeffler / SKF / NEI / Tata)
Trilegal (Mumbai)
Inde 3 contributions 2377 visites
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Trilegal (Mumbai)
Inde 7 contributions 4386 visites
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Trilegal (Mumbai)
Inde 7 contributions 4386 visites
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) recently found National Engineering Industries Ltd. (NEI), Schaeffler India Ltd. (Schaeffler), SKF India Ltd. (SKF) and Tata Steel Ltd., Bearing Division (Tata) (collectively, OPs) to have collusively fixed the prices of automotive and industrial (...)

The Mexican Competition Authority opens a public consultation on draft modifications to the guidelines for the exchange of information between economic agents
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexico 83 contributions 15027 visits
Public Consultation on the Draft Modifications to the Guidelines for the Exchange of Information Between Economic Agents* Pursuant to articles 28, paragraphs 14th and 20th, section VI, of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States; articles 12, section XXII, last paragraph, (...)

The UK Government’s dairy produce order which relaxes the application of competition law in the dairy sector during COVID-19 pandemic has expired Free
Morgan Lewis (London)
Royaume-Uni 28 contributions 14314 visites
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Morgan Lewis (London)
Royaume-Uni 22 contributions 5462 visites
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Morgan Lewis (London)
Royaume-Uni 3 contributions 472 visites
The UK government’s Dairy Produce Order of May 1, 2020, which temporarily relaxed the application of UK competition law to certain types of cooperation in the dairy sector between dairy produce suppliers or dairy logistic service providers during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, (...)

The US DoJ allows an association of competing production companies to operate an online platform for offering their services with safeguards in place to avoid potential for anticompetitive conduct (Association of Independent Commercial Producers)
US Department of Justice - Antitrust Division (Washington)
États-Unis 80 contributions 17999 visites
Justice Department Issues Business Review Letter to the Association of Independent Commercial Producers* The Department of Justice announced today that it will not challenge a proposal by the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) to operate an online platform for advertisers (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority opens investigation into a suspected anticompetitive agreement among national basketball league and individual basketball clubs and warns similar agreements are not justified by the COVID-19 health emergency (Lithuanian Basketball League) Free
Lithuanian Competition Authority (Vilnius)
Lithuania 73 contributions 10625 visits
KONKURENCIJOS TARYBA LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPECTED ANTI-COMPETITIVE AGREEMENT AMONG LITHUANIAN BASKETBALL LEAGUE AND BASKETBALL CLUBS* The Lithuanian competition authority Konkurencijos taryba has launched an investigation into a suspected anti-competitive agreement among the (...)

The EU Commission publishes its first comfort letter to foster cooperation among businesses in the pharmaceutical sector during COVID-19 pandemic Free
Morgan Lewis (London)
Royaume-Uni 22 contributions 5462 visites
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Morgan Lewis (Brussels)
Belgique 8 contributions 2405 visites
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Morgan Lewis (Brussels)
Belgique 5 contributions 1648 visites
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The European Commission published its first comfort letter in nearly 20 years on April 29, in an effort to foster cooperation among businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Here is what companies should know about the specific practices permitted under the comfort letter, as well (...)

The Chilean Supreme Court upholds a landmark decision by the Competition Tribunal condemning the country’s three largest supermarkets for conspiracy in fixing minimum resale prices of poultry (Walmart / Cencosud / SMU)
Garrigues (Provincia)
Chili 1 contribution 146 visites
The Chilean Supreme Court recently upheld a landmark decision by the Competition Tribunal (“TDLC”) in Fiscalía Nacional Económica en contra de Cencosud S.A. y otras, Rol C-304-2016, condemning the country’s three largest supermarkets chains for having engaged in a conspiracy to fix minimum resale (...)

The Mexican Competition Authority warns the National Association of Real Estate Developers to avoid possible agreements between competitors during the COVID-19 pandemic (ADI Mexico) Free
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexico 83 contributions 15027 visits
COFECE warns the National Association of Real Estate Developers to avoid possible agreements between competitors in this market* The Association has promoted among its members the granting of discounts to tenants, which could infringe the LFCE if these discounts are established or fixed (...)

The Hong Kong Competition Authority launches a public consultation on the commitments offered by three online travel agents to remove certain parity clauses in their contracts with accommodation providers (Booking.com / Expedia / Trip.com)
Hogan Lovells (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong 2 contributions 773 visites
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Hogan Lovells (Beijing)
Chine 68 contributions 13786 visites
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Hogan Lovells (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong 2 contributions 773 visites
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On 31 March 2020 the Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) commenced a public consultation on the commitments offered by three online travel agents (OTAs) to remove certain parity clauses in their existing and future contracts with accommodation providers in Hong Kong. The consultation period (...)

The UK Government publishes an order that excludes certain arrangements in the healthcare sector from the Competition Act to tackle COVID-19 pressures Free
Hill Dickinson (Leeds)
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 132 visites
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Hill Dickinson (London)
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 132 visites
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Hill Dickinson (Leeds)
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 132 visites
Healthcare providers - suspension of competition law provisions to tackle coronavirus pressures* To ensure that healthcare providers can work together effectively to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, an order has been made to exclude certain arrangements within the healthcare sector from (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes fines totalling €462,000 on five moving companies operating in the French overseas territories for colluding in the provision of moving services to the French Army (AGS Réunion / Océan Indien / DEM Austral Transdem / T2M)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
On 23 March 2020, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) imposed fines totalling € 462,000 on five moving companies operating in the French overseas territory of Réunion for having colluded in the provision of moving services to the French army between Réunion and the French mainland. The (...)

The UK Government and the Competition Authority adopt two recent measures against shortages and high prices during the COVID-19 outbreak Free
Greenberg Traurig (London)
Royaume-Uni 3 contributions 2737 visites
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Greenberg Traurig (London)
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 331 visites
The rapid spread of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom and the measures being implemented to counter the disease have resulted in an unprecedented surge of consumer demand for groceries and other essential supplies. Safeguarding consumers against shortages and high prices is at the heart of two (...)

The UK Competition Authority fines four pharmaceutical companies a total of £3,4 million for breaching competition law in relation to the supply of the antidepressant drug for market sharing and exchanging sensitive information (King Pharmaceuticals / Auden Mckenzie / Lexon / Alissa Healthcare)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
On 4 March 2020, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) fined four pharmaceutical companies a total of £ 3.4 million for breaching competition law in relation to the supply of the antidepressant drug nortriptyline. The companies involved in the infringement were King Pharmaceuticals, (...)

The Mexican Competition Authority issues its new regulatory provisions of the leniency and immunity program
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexico 83 contributions 15027 visits
COFECE issues Regulatory Provisions of the Leniency and Immunity Program* The Regulatory Provisions are legally binding and aimed at providing tat providing greater legal certainty on procedures related to the Leniency and Immunity Program Mexico City, March 4, 2020.- The Mexican Federal (...)

The UK Competition Appeals Tribunal rules on which part of the EU Commission’s settlement decision is binding on a defendant and that it is an abuse of process for defendants to deny in follow-on damage claim the findings that are contained in settlements (Trucks cartel)
Hausfeld (London)
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 166 visites
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Hausfeld (London)
Royaume-Uni 2 contributions 169 visites
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Hausfeld (London)
Royaume-Uni 4 contributions 1906 visites
In an important judgment for follow- on damages claims, the Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that a number of findings made by the European Commission in its Trucks ‘settlement’ Decision are binding on the defendants and the Tribunal; and that, subject to limited exceptions, it is an abuse (...)

The UK Competition Authority closes its pharma probe by fining 4 companies more than £3.4 million and requiring a payment of £1 million directly to the NHS for breaches of competition law in relation to the supply of an antidepressant (King Pharmaceuticals / Accord-UK / Lexon / Alissa Healthcare Research)
United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 216 contributions 43484 visits
Over £3m in fines and £1m for NHS in CMA pharma probe* Following an investigation, the CMA has found that 4 pharmaceutical companies broke competition law in relation to the supply of an antidepressant. The probe by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the supply of nortriptyline, a (...)

The Peruvian Competition Authority initiates a proceeding against construction companies and their executives for bid-rigging in the construction sector (Altesa Contratistas Generales)
Peruvian Competition Authority - INDECOPI (Lima)
Pérou 8 contributions 1558 visites
Indecopi has initiated an administrative sanctioning proceeding against 35 construction companies and 28 of their executives for an alleged liability of participating in bid rigging in 112 public tenders nationwide in the construction sector* The 112 tenders were convened by the Ministry of (...)

The Indian Competition Authority rules that the conduct of a bidder who hires proxy bidders is not anti-competitive (Plasser / Harbour Sales)
National University of Study and Research in Law (Ranchi)
3 contributions 622 visites
Recently, Competition Commission of India (CCI) in the case of Plasser India v. Harbour Sales Private Limited., (Plasser India case) decided that a mere possibility of potential collusion based on common ownership of agents in a bid does not show anti-competitive conduct thereby not leading to (...)

The Italian Council of State reverses a banking cartel decision on account of the negligible competition impact (Raiffeisen)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121319 visits
Determining the appeal claims lodged in the Raiffeisen case, the highest administrative court or Council of State (hereinafter the Court) has reversed a previous infringement decision made by the Italian Competition Authority (ICA). The Court found that the contested restrictive business (...)

The Danish High Court finds two companies guilty of exchanging prices and coordinating tenders on several construction contracts (Jorton / Skjøde Knudsen)
Bird & Bird (Copenhagen)
Danemark 32 contributions 3375 visites
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Bird & Bird (Copenhagen)
Danemark 24 contributions 1512 visites
On 7 January 2020, the Danish High Court (“High Court”) found the two construction groups, Jorton A/S and H. Skjøde Knudsen A/S, guilty of having infringed the Danish Competition Act by exchanging prices and coordinating tenders on several construction contracts. The High Court found that the two (...)

The Danish High Court fines two companies for bid rigging in the construction sector (Jorton / H. Skjøde Knudsen)
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Denmark 104 contributions 26148 visits
THE HIGHT COURT FINES TWO CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES FOR BID RIGGING * The High Court has fined the construction companies Jorton A/S and H. Skjøde Knudsen A/S respectively DKK 3,000,000 (€ 401,442) and DKK 267,628 (€ XXX) for bid rigging. Two members of the managements were fined respectively DKK (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority fines undertakings €4.8 million for sharing EU-funded public procurement tenders for diagnostic imaging equipment (GE Hungary / Premier G / Euromedic Technology)
Bird & Bird (Budapest)
Hongrie 17 contributions 950 visites
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Bird & Bird (Budapest)
Hongrie 16 contributions 949 visites
The Hungarian Competition Authority (’’GVH’’) fined several undertakings which were found to have shared amongst themselves the EU-funded public procurement tenders for diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT and X-ray) equipment in Hungary in 2015. The total fine amounts to EUR 4.8 million, with GE Hungary (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority opens investigation into potential anticompetitive practices in the maritime transport of passengers and vehicles in the South of Spain (Algeciras / Ceuta)
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgium 45 contributions 17772 visits
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgium 50 contributions 22301 visits
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgium 44 contributions 17681 visits
The Spanish Competition and Markets Authority, CNMC, is investigating whether a number of companies active in maritime transport between Algeciras and Ceuta may be in breach of article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act (‘LDC’) and article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (‘TFEU’). (...)

The French Competition Authority fines meal vouchers issuers for anticompetitive practices taking the form of information exchange, market sharing and price-fixing (Edenred France / Up / Natixis Intertitres / Sodexo Pass France)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visites
The Autorité de la concurrence fines the four historical meal vouchers issuers for a total of nearly 415 M€, for anticompetitive practices* Background The Autorité has been informed of anti-competitive practices in the meal vouchers sector by the company Octoplus (Resto Flash), which offers a (...)

The German Competition Authority fines steel manufacturers for collusion and exchange of sensitive information (Ilsenburger / Thyssenkrupp Steel / Voestalpine)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
According to a press release of the German Federal Cartel Office (“FCO”) dated 12 December 2019, the FCO fined steel manufacturers ThyssenKrupp, Ilsenburger Grobblech and Voestalpine Grobblech, as well as three individuals, a total amount of approximately € 646 million for exchanging sensitive (...)

The German Competition Authority fines car makers for steel purchasing cartel (BMW / Daimler / Volkswagen)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
According to a press release of the German Federal Cartel Office (“FCO”) dated 21 November 2019, car manufacturers BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen were fined a total amount of approximately € 100 million for their involvement in a steel purchasing cartel between 2004 and 2013. The anticompetitive (...)

The UK Competition Authority fines three construction companies for price-fixing, market sharing, and exchange of information (Stanton Bonna Concrete / CPM / FP McCann)
United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 216 contributions 43484 visits
Construction firms fined £36 million for breaking competition law* The CMA has issued 3 firms with fines totalling more than £36 million for breaking competition law in supplying certain concrete drainage products for building projects. Following an investigation by the Competition and Markets (...)

The Brazilian CADE recommends closing an administrative inquiry which investigates potential anticompetitive conducts in the transmission of sensitive information among competitors in the payment market
Vinicius Marques de Carvalho Advogados (VMCA) (Sao Paulo)
1 contribution 157 visites
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Vinicius Marques de Carvalho Advogados (VMCA) (Sao Paulo)
Brésil 8 contributions 2321 visites
On October 14, CADE’s General Superintendence (GS) recommended closing an administrative inquiry investigating potential anticompetitive conduct. Such conduct consisted of the transmission of sensitive information among competitors in the payments market. More specifically, the investigation (...)

The Belgian Competition Authority issues a guide on the exchange of information in the framework of professional association
Belgian Competition Authority (Brussels)
Belgium 63 contributions 15600 visits
Guide on the exchange of information in the framework of professional association* After completing the public consultations, the Board of the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) has adopted on the 1st of October 2019 a guide on the exchange of information in the framework of professional (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority fines 14 banks for exchange of information
Portuguese Competition Authority (Lisbon)
Portugal 68 contributions 17294 visites
AdC imposes a fine of 225 million euros to 14 banks The Portuguese Competition Authority (Autoridade da Concorrência - AdC) fined 14 banks in the total amount of 225 million euros in connection with the concerted practice of exchanging sensitive commercial data, during a period of more than ten (...)

The Danish Competition Authority informs that an association of camera distributors accepts fine for price coordination and information exchange (Team DS)
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Denmark 104 contributions 26148 visits
Denmark: ”Team DS a.m.b.a., Denmark, accepts fine for price coordination and information exchange”* On 6 August 2019, the Danish association of camera distributors Team DS a.m.b.a. accepted to pay a fine of DKK 1,300,000 (€ 174,300) for coordination of prices and information exchange between the (...)

The Indian Competition Authority fines companies for bid-rigging regarding a tender for the selection of an agency to carry-out tree census (Nagrik Chetna Manch / SAAR / CADD / Pentacle / Pune)
Trilegal (Mumbai)
Inde 7 contributions 4386 visites
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Trilegal (Bangalore)
Inde 5 contributions 2983 visites
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Trilegal (Mumbai)
Inde 7 contributions 4386 visites
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) recently found that SAAR IT Resources Private Limited (OP 1), CADD Systems and Services Private Limited (OP 2) and Pentacle Consultants (I) Private Limited (OP 3), collusively manipulated the process of bidding, by rigging the bids for the tender (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines eight companies that operate in the raw milk market for entering into an anticompetitive information exchange agreement (Industrias Lácteas 2)
Callol, Coca & Asociados (Madrid)
Spain 127 contributions 36026 visits
On 12 July 2019, the CNMC found that the main milk producers had entered into anticompetitive information exchanges (at the national and regional level) on raw cow milk purchase prices and volumes purchased from farmers and milk suppliers. Altogether, the fines amount to €80.6 million. The said (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority publishes a new ruling on the dairy sector cartel and imposes fines on companies and two trade associations amounting to €80.6 million (Industrias Làcteas 2)
CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo (Madrid)
Espagne 2 contributions 297 visites
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CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo (Madrid)
Espagne 11 contributions 2289 visites
On 26 February 2015, the Spanish Competition Authority (“CNMC”) handed nine companies and two trade associations that operated in the dairy sector fines of EUR 88 million. These fines were annulled by the Spanish High Court in October/November 2018 after the Spanish Supreme Court declared that a (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority grants an exemption to an electronic refuel and information system bringing together fuel distributors and to end-users in a two-sided market (Platform Aracılık / Danışmanlık)
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turkey 112 contributions 38547 visits
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ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turkey 6 contributions 1867 visits
Background The Turkish Competition Board (“Board”) has recently published its reasoned decision on an exemption application by Platform Aracılık ve Danışmanlık Ltd. Şti. (“Platform Aracılık”) regarding its sample agreements (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”) with five fuel distributors (“Fuel (...)

The UK Competition Authority provisionally finds that four pharmaceutical companies broke competition law by fixing the quantities and the prices of an anti-depressant drug (Auden Mckenzie / King / Alissa / Lexon)
United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 216 contributions 43484 visits
Suppliers of antidepressants accused of illegal anti-competitive conduct* The CMA has provisionally found that 4 pharmaceutical companies broke competition law in relation to the supply of an anti-depressant drug. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has accused competitors King and (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines non-university textbook publishers and an association for allegedly creating a mechanism to coordinate commercial policies and terms and conditions of trade (ANELE)
Callol, Coca & Asociados (Madrid)
Spain 127 contributions 36026 visits
The NMCC has declared that the association ANELE and all the publishers under investigation have breached Article 1 SCA and Article 101 TFEU, in relation to (i) the adoption and implementation of ANELE’S Code of Conduct (CoC), which restricted promotional activities; and (ii) digital books, due (...)

The Spanish Supreme Court confirms the Competition Authority’s decision in fining a company for agreements and exchange of strategic information on prices (Repsol)
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 45 contributions 17771 visites
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 50 contributions 22299 visites
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 44 contributions 17680 visites
The Spanish Supreme Court has confirmed the penalty against Repsol for anticompetitive practices consisting in agreements and exchange of strategic information on the prices of fuel in Spain. In the judgement, the Supreme Court has upheld the claims of the State Attorney (central government (...)

The EU Commission imposes fines totalling over € 1 billion on banks for their involvement in two separate cartels in the spot foreign exchange markets (Barclays / RBS / Citigroup / JPMorgan / MUFG)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
On 16 May 2019, the European Commission adopted two decisions under its cartel settlement procedure, in which it imposed fines totalling € 1.07 billion on five banks for their involvement in two separate cartels on the spot foreign exchange markets for eleven currencies. The banks involved in (...)

The EU Commission fines five banks for participating in foreign exchange spot trading cartel (Barclays / RBS / Citigroup / JPMorgan / MUFG)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 794 contributions 1702594 visits
Antitrust: Commission fines Barclays, RBS, Citigroup, JPMorgan and MUFG €1.07 billion for participating in foreign exchange spot trading cartel* In two settlement decisions, the European Commission has fined five banks for taking part in two cartels in the Spot Foreign Exchange market for 11 (...)

The Danish City Court of Hillerod fines a demolition company for exchanging prices with a competing company in four cases (Nedrivningsaktieselskabet J. Jensen)
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Denmark 104 contributions 26148 visits
Denmark: Demolition Company fined DKK 1 million in bid rigging case* The City Court of Hillerød has fined the demolition company Nedrivningsaktieselskabet J. Jensen DKK 1 million for exchanging prices with a competing demolition company in four cases. Moreover, the City Court fined two members (...)

The Estonian Competition Authority opens criminal proceedings to investigate a possible restriction of competition in the agricultural equipment market
Estonian Competition Authority (Tallinn)
Estonie 4 contributions 464 visites
Authority conducts criminal proceedings for investigating a possible restriction of competition in companies selling agricultural equipment* In the framework of a criminal case concerning a possible restriction of competition, the Competition Authority carried out searches at the premises of (...)

The Spanish Competition Commission fines tobacco manufacturers for an anticompetitive exchange of strategic information (Philip Morris / Altadis / JT International Iberia / Logista)
Callol, Coca & Asociados (Madrid)
Spain 127 contributions 36026 visits
The Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission (NMCC) has fined Spain’s main tobacco manufacturers, Philip Morris, Altadis, JT International Iberia, as well as wholesaler Logista for an anticompetitive exchange of strategic information. Logista facilitated immediate access to its daily (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority initiales a full-fledged investigation on the Turkish poultry sector and concludes that sector specific justifications are not enough to prevent violations (BESDBIR)
Balcıoğlu Selçuk Akman Keki (BASEAK)
Turquie 1 contribution 57 visites
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Balcıoğlu Selçuk Akman Keki (BASEAK) (Istanbul)
1 contribution 57 visites
ASSESSMENT OF INFORMATION EXCHANGE FINES UNDER TURKISH COMPETITION LAW REGIME: SECTOR SPECIFIC JUSTIFICATIONS MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE VIOLATIONS !* Competition law, at its core, is a case law based practice. The natural habitat of enforcement for competition rules is the consolidation (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority finds exchange of informations and supply restrictions from nine undertakings during an investigation in the Poultry sector (Investigation in the Poultry Sector)
ACTECON (Istanbul)
Turkey 17 contributions 6296 visits
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ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turkey 13 contributions 2857 visits
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ACTECON (Istanbul)
Turkey 6 contributions 1432 visits
The Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”) has concluded its full-fledged investigation regarding a total of 20 undertakings operating in the poultry sector. In its decision dated 13.03.2019 and numbered 19-12/155-70, the TCA held that the following 9 undertakings violated Article 4 of the Law No. (...)

The Danish Competition Authority fines several plumbing companies and three managers for bid-rigging (Christoffersen & Knudsen)
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Denmark 104 contributions 26148 visits
Plumbing company and management members from several plumbing companies pay fines in settlements for bid rigging* The plumbing company Christoffersen & Knudsen A/S and three members from the management in this and two other plumbing companies have entered into settlements with the Danish (...)

The EU Commission imposes fines totalling € 368 million on car safety equipment suppliers in cartel settlement decision (Takata / Autoliv / TRW)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 367 contributions 79406 visits
On 5 March 2019, the European Commission (the “Commission”) announced that it had imposed total fines of € 368,277,000 on two car safety equipment suppliers, Autoliv and TRW, for their involvement in two cartels concerning the supply of car seatbelts, airbags and steering wheels to European car (...)

The EU Commission fines car safety equipment suppliers € 368 million in cartel settlement for illegal information exchanges (Takata / Autoliv / TRW)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 794 contributions 1702594 visits
Antitrust: Commission fines car safety equipment suppliers € 368 million in cartel settlement* The European Commission has fined Autoliv and TRW a total of € 368 277 000 for breaching EU antitrust rules. Takata was not fined as it revealed the cartels to the Commission. The companies took part (...)

The UK FCA issues its first antitrust decision and fines several companies for sharing strategic information during an initial public offering (Hargreave / Newton / RAMAM)
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (London)
United Kingdom 30 contributions 14647 visits
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Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Brussels)
Belgium 51 contributions 21986 visits
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Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Brussels)
Belgium 20 contributions 5428 visits
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The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued its first antitrust decision since obtaining competition law powers four years ago. The decision is a controversial one. It sets the FCA up as a strict enforcer on the type of information that competing investors can share when making (...)

The UK Financial Conduct Authority fines companies sharing strategic information on a bilateral basis during an initial public offering (Hargreave / Newton / RAMAM)
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (London)
Royaume-Uni 3 contributions 2479 visites
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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (London)
United Kingdom 22 contributions 28935 visits
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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (London)
Royaume-Uni 14 contributions 4596 visites
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This article has been nominated for the 2020 Antitrust Writing Awards. Click here to learn more about the Antitrust Writing Awards. On 21 February, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”) found that Hargreave Hale Ltd (“Hargreave Hale”), Newton Investment Management Limited (“Newton”), and (...)

The UK FCA issues its first formal decision under its competition law enforcement powers by finning three asset management firms in an IPO context (Hargreave / Newton / RAMAM)
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (London)
Royaume-Uni 3 contributions 218 visites
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Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (London)
Royaume-Uni 3 contributions 2919 visites
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Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (London)
Royaume-Uni 7 contributions 671 visites
On 21 February 2019, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a decision finding that three asset management firms breached competition law in the context of an initial public offering (IPO). This marks the FCA’s first formal decision under its competition law enforcement powers, which it (...)

The UK Court of Appeal upholds the UK Competition Authority’s fining and confirms that a single exchange of pricing information is sufficient for a "by object" infringement (Balmoral Tanks)
Baker Botts (Brussels)
Belgique 21 contributions 11425 visites
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Baker Botts (Brussels)
Belgique 7 contributions 3932 visites
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Baker Botts (London)
Royaume-Uni 10 contributions 1917 visites
ONE-TIME INFORMATION EXCHANGE SUFFICIENT – A RECENT REMINDER IN THE UK* The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) recently welcomed the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of a challenge brought against a decision of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”) by Balmoral, a supplier of steel water (...)

The Italian Competition Authority finds two anti-competitive agreements in the market for the provision of fire prevention services (Wood Firefighting Services)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121319 visits
In the recent Wood Fire Service case, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has found two anti-competitive agreements put in place by several players in the market for the provision of wood fire prevention services. The first anti-competitive agreement took the shape of a bid rigging practice (...)

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore fines hotels for exchanging commercially sensitive information (Capri / Village Hotels / Crowne Plaza)
Baker McKenzie (Singapore)
Singapour 3 contributions 2340 visites
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Baker McKenzie (Singapore)
Singapour 2 contributions 2051 visites
Finding of Single Economic Entity in the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore’s infringement decision against 4 competing hotels for the exchange of commercially sensitive corporate customer information between competing hotels in Singapore. On 30 January 2019, the CCCS issued its (...)

The Indian Competition Authority fines 2 sellers of dry cell batteries for participating in bilateral "ancillary" cartel from the standpoint of consumers (Panasonic / Godrej / Boyce)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI imposes penalty on Godrej and Boyce for being a member of bilateral “ancillary” cartel* The Competition Commission of India (“CCI/ Commission”), by way of order dated 15.01.2019, has imposed a penalty of INR 85,01,364/-on Godrej and Boyce manufacturing Co. Limited (“Godrej”) for acting in (...)

The Italian Council of State confirms that the Italian Competition Authority wrongly established a bid rigging practice in the medical sector (Alliance / Siemens / Philips / Toshiba / AGCM)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121319 visits
By its recent judgment in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanners (MRI Scanners) the Italian Council of State uphold on appeal the judgement previously handed down by the Regional Administrative Court of Latium (TAR Latium). The TAR Latium set aside a decision made by the Italian Competition (...)

The Danish Competition Appeal Tribunal confirms fines imposed to members of an association of camera distributors for participating in anticompetitive agreements
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Danemark 104 contributions 26145 visites
Anti-competitive agreement/decision in an association of camera distributors* The Danish Competition Appeal Tribunal has upheld a decision taken by the Danish Competition Council (DCC) that a horizontal cooperation agreement/decision among more than 50 independent camera distributors, who are (...)

The EU Commission sends a statement of objection to four banks accused of collusion in the bond trading market
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 794 contributions 1702594 visits
Antitrust: Commission sends Statement of Objections in US Dollar supra-sovereign, sovereign and agency bond trading cartel* The European Commission has informed four banks of its preliminary view that they have breached EU antitrust rules by colluding, in periods from 2009 to 2015, to distort (...)

The Italian Competition Authority finds a cartel in the market for car hire purchase and imposes a record fine of €670 millions (Car Finance)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121319 visits
In the Car Finance case the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has levied a record-breaking fine of overall € 670 million on the participants to a secret cartel affecting the business sector of car hire purchase. The anticompetitive agreement was put in place by several car manufacturers, BMW, (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority determines whether members of the guard rails and road safety systems have violated article 4 of the Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition through collusive tendering and bid rigging (Çelik Otokorkuluk)
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turkey 112 contributions 38545 visits
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ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turquie 11 contributions 2314 visites
This case note analyses the Turkish Competition Board’s (“Board”) decision of 22 November 2018 numbered 18-44/702-344 in which the Board assessed the allegations that several undertakings–which are all active in the steel guardrail sector in Turkey and members of the Turkish Association of Steel (...)

The US DoJ announces that three South Korean companies in the market of oil refiners and logistics agreed to plead guilty and to enter into a civil settlement for bid-rigging (SK Energy / GS Caltex / Hanjin Transportation)
GeyerGorey (Washington)
États-Unis 17 contributions 3236 visites
DOD Bid Rigging Whistleblower and Related Antitrust Division Criminal Cases* Last week the Antitrust Division announced that three South Korean companies had agreed to plead guilty and to enter into civil settlements for rigging bids on United States Department of Defense Fuel Supply Contracts (...)

The US DoJ reaches settlement with six broadcast television companies and prohibits share of competitively sensitive information in the television spot advertising market (Sinclair Broadcast Group / Raycom Media / Tribune Media Company / Meredith Corporation / Griffin Communications / Dreamcatcher Broadcasting)
McDermott Will & Emery (Washington)
États-Unis 10 contributions 895 visites
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Crowell & Moring (Washington)
United States 16 contributions 1704 visits
THE LATEST: DOJ Reaches Settlement with Six Broadcast Television Companies* The Department of Justice (DOJ) and six broadcast television companies reached settlements last week after the DOJ claimed that the companies shared competitively sensitive information that allowed the parties to alter (...)

The Indian Competition Authority holds that information exchange is not a standalone violation of the Indian Competition Act (Flashlights cartel)
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (New Delhi)
Inde 48 contributions 10261 visites
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Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (New Delhi)
India 51 contributions 10921 visits
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Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (New Delhi)
Inde 54 contributions 11568 visites
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On 6 November 2018, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) found that four manufacturers/traders of flashlights and their trade association (the Opposite Parties) were not involved in cartelisation as, despite an information exchange, there was not enough corroborating evidence to suggest a (...)

The Indian Competition Authority exonerates parties from allegations of cartelization despite having admitting coordination in the flashlight market (Eveready / Panasonic / Indo National / Geep / AIDCM)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI holds that mere information exchange by itself is not anti-competitive, in spite of leniency applications filed* The Competition Commission of India (”CCI”) by way of an order dated November 6, 2018 has exonerated Eveready Industries India Limited (“Eveready”), Panasonic Energy India Co. Ltd. (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority examines possible price fixing and other vertical restrictions in the animal health products market (Medicamentos Veterinarios)
CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo (Madrid)
Espagne 11 contributions 2289 visites
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CMS Albiñana y Suárez de Lezo (Madrid)
Espagne 2 contributions 295 visites
Background On 16 September 2014, the National Association for Animal Health (“ASEMAZ-ASA”) filed a complaint before the Spanish Competition Authority (“CNMC”) against several companies active in the animal health products market (“the Companies”) for alleged anti-competitive practices in breach of (...)

The South African Competition Tribunal rejects a tender collusion allegation on the basis that the tender was a sham (Geometry / Vaxiprox)
Anheuser-Busch InBev (Leuven)
Belgique 4 contributions 2773 visites
The Competition Commission of South Africa (the Commission) sought an order from the Competition Tribunal of South Africa (the Tribunal) declaring that two brand activation companies (Geometry Global (Pty) Ltd (Geometry) and Vaxiprox (Pty) Ltd (Vaxiprox)) had colluded on a tender issued by a (...)

The French Supreme Court uses the EU Court of Justice framework to overturn a judgment issued in a cartel of endives producers (Endive cartel)
Niddam-Drouas Avocats (Paris)
France 6 contributions 681 visites
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Niddam-Drouas Avocats (Paris)
France 6 contributions 6095 visites
In the endive cartel case, the French Supreme Court (Cour de casssation) judgement issued 12 September 2018 analyses the relationship between competition law and EU agricultural rules. In its decision following a preliminary ruling issued by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), the Supreme (...)

The Indian Competition Authority fines seller of dry cell batteries for participating in bilateral "ancillary" cartel from the standpoint of consumers (Panasonic / Geep Industries India)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposes penalty on Geep Industries for being a member of bilateral “ancillary” cartel* By way of order dated August 30, 2018, the CCI imposed a penalty of INR 9,64 06,682 (Nine crores sixty-four lakh six thousand six hundred and eight two) on Geep Industries (...)

The US FTC settles civil complaint regarding wage-fixing against a medical staffing agency (Your Therapy Source)
McDermott Will & Emery (Paris)
France 109 contributions 50312 visites
A recent settlement shows that the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will use its enforcement authority to target employer collusion in the labor market. What Happened The FTC brought a complaint against a medical staffing agency, Your Therapy Source, LLC, and the owner of a competing (...)

The Indian Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upholds the Indian Competition Authority’s record fine imposed in the cement cartel case (Builders’ Association of India / Cement Manufacturers’ Association)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
NCLAT upholds the highest penalty imposed by CCI on cement cartel* The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) by way of a judgement dated 25 July 2018 has upheld the penalty imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on 11 cement companies for cartelization. The CCI in its (...)

The German Competition Authority fines several steel companies for price-fixing and exchanging information (ArcelorMittal Commercial Long / Cologne / Dörrenberg Edelstahl / Engelskirchen Kind & Co. / Edelstahlwerke / Wiehl / Saarstahl / Völklingen / Schmidt + Clemens / Lindlar and Zapp Precision Metals / Schwerte)
German Competition Authority (Bonn)
Allemagne 332 contributions 68883 visites
Bundeskartellamt imposes first fines totalling approx. 205 million euros on special steel companies* The Bundeskartellamt has imposed fines totalling approx. 205 million euros on six special steel companies, a trade association and ten individuals for concluding price-fixing agreements and (...)

The Indian Competition Authority dismisses cartel allegations against 37 suppliers of signaling cables to national railways (North Western Railway / Rajasthan Transformers and Switchgears)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI closes allegation of cartel against 37 suppliers of signaling cables to Indian Railways* The Competition Commission of India (CCI/Commission ) by way of an order dated 12 July 2018 rejected the findings of the Director General (DG) and closed the case against 37 signaling cable (...)

The Indian Competition Authority decides its fourth leniency and fines broadcasting service providers for bid-rigging in tenders floated by sports broadcasters (Essel Shyam Communication / Globecast India / Globecast Asia)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI decides its fourth leniency, imposes penalty on broadcasting service providers for bid-rigging in tenders floated by Sports Broadcasters* By way of an order dated 11 July 2018, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) imposed a penalty of INR 22.36 Crore on Essel Shyam Communication (...)

The Danish Competition Authority adopts guidelines on joint bidding under competition law
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Danemark 104 contributions 26145 visites
New guidelines on joint bidding under competition law* The Danish Competition and Consumer Authority published new guidelines on how to assess joint bidding under competition law on 25 April 2018. These guidelines are now available in English. The guidelines address the assessments (...)

The Russian Competition Authority exposes a large cartel of medical products suppliers (RM Endovascula / Raymed Trading Group PVT / Slonika / Exomedic / Vascular / Balticamed / Life Medicine / Inmed)
Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (Moscow)
France 292 contributions 36370 visites
FAS exposed a large cartel of medical products suppliers* Moscow OFAS exposed a cartel formed by “RM Endovascular” Ltd., “Raymed Trading Group PVT” Ltd., “SLONIKA” Ltd., “EXOMEDIC” Ltd., “VASCULAR” Ltd., “BALTICAMED” Ltd., “LIFE MEDICINE” Ltd. and “INMED” Ltd. The companies took part in 124 auctions for (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines five companies and three of their executives for an information exchange to collude in tenders for the award of institutional advertising contracts (Carat España / Inteligencia y Media / Media by Design / Media Sapiens / Persuade Comunicación)
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 45 contributions 17771 visites
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 50 contributions 22293 visites
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 44 contributions 17680 visites
Five companies (Carat España SAU, Inteligencia y Media SA, Media by Design Spain SA, Media Sapiens Spain SL and Persuade Comunicación) have been sanctioned for a collusive behaviour consisting in the exchange of commercially sensitive information in order to share tenders in the Framework (...)

The Spanish National Markets and Competition Commission fines five companies and three company executives for bid-rigging of public tenders for institutional advertising services (Agencias de Medios)
Callol, Coca & Asociados (Madrid)
Espagne 127 contributions 36026 visites
On 7 May 2018, the NMCC imposed fines amounting to €7.12 million upon five companies: Carat España, S.A.U, Inteligencia y Media, S.A. (YMEDIA), Media By Design Spain, S.A. (MEDIA BY DESIGN), Media Sapiens Spain, S.L. and Persuadé Comunicación, S.A. and three of their managers or legal (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority prohibits the publishing of price lists by two professional federations of translators and translation offices (TUÇEF / TURÇEF)
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turquie 1 contribution 270 visites
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ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law (Istanbul)
Turkey 112 contributions 38545 visits
This case summary includes an analysis of the Turkish Competition Board’s (“Board”) TUÇEF and TURÇEF decision (03.05.2018; 18-13/230-105). The Board reviewed the allegations put forward by Berkay Gökçe, a real person, against TURÇEF Yeminli Çevirmenlik Federasyonu (“TURÇEF”) and TUÇEF Uluslararası (...)

The Indian Competition Authority fines battery manufacturers for cartel after a 6-year investigation including 2 leniency applications (Eveready Industries India / Indo National / Panasonic Energy India / Association of Indian Dry Cell Manufacturer)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI Penalizes Batter Manufacturers’ Admitted Cartel - Decised Its Second Leniency Case* Competition Commission of India (CCI) by an order dated 19 April 2018, in its second decision on a leniency application, has awarded a 100 (One Hundred) per cent reduction in penalty to the leniency (...)

The Italian Competition Authority clears a horizontal cooperation agreement in the telecommunication sector by a commitment decision (Flash Fiber)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121319 visits
In the Flash Fiber case the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has closed by a commitment decision an Article 101 TFEU investigation into a horizontal cooperation agreement concerning the telecommunication sector. After the implementation of the commitments agreed with the parties, the ICA (...)

The EU Commission fines maritime car carriers and car parts suppliers in three separate cartel cases (MOL / NYK / K Line / Wwl-Eukor / Csav) (Denso / Bosch / NGK) (TRW / Continental)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 794 contributions 1702594 visits
Antitrust: Commission fines maritime car carriers and car parts suppliers a total of €546 million in three separate cartel settlements* In three separate decisions, the European Commission has fined four maritime car carriers €395 million, two suppliers of spark plugs €76 million, and two (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines four banks for colluding to offer interest rate derivatives at different conditions to those agreed with the clients (Banco Santander / Banco Sabadell / BBVA / Caixabank)
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 45 contributions 17771 visites
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 50 contributions 22293 visites
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Gómez-Acebo & Pombo (Brussels)
Belgique 44 contributions 17680 visites
The CNMC has imposed a EUR 91 million fine to Banco Santander, Banco Sabadell, BBVA and Caixabank for colluding to offer interest rate derivatives at different conditions from those agreed with the clients concerned. The derivatives in question were used to cover the risks of the interest rate (...)

The EU Court of Justice rules that the dissemination of misleading information is a restriction by object and excludes exemption under Article 101 §3 TFEU (Roche / Novartis)
Almain (Paris)
France 1 contribution 1407 visites
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Simmons & Simmons (Paris)
France 26 contributions 54753 visites
On 23 January 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union delivered its decision on the preliminary ruling referred to it by the Italian Council of State in the dispute between Roche and Novartis on the one hand and the Italian competition authority (AGCM) on the other. In 2014, Roche and (...)

The Russian Competition Authority opens proceedings concerning a cartel in the railway tracks market (Partnerstvo)
Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (Moscow)
France 292 contributions 36370 visites
Rail track collusion* Moscow OFAS exposed cartels at auctions of the Ministry of Defence for supplying materials for rail tracks. “Partnerstvo” Ltd., “Pravda” Ltd. and “DorRem” Ltd. concluded and implemented oral cartel agreements throughout 5 auctions (in breach of Clause 2 Part 1 Article 11 of (...)

The Polish Competition Authority issues a decision on collusion concerning ISO certificates (Prezes Urzędu Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów)
WKB Wierciński Kwieciński Baehr (Warsaw)
Pologne 3 contributions 661 visites
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WKB Wierciński Kwieciński Baehr (Warsaw)
Pologne 19 contributions 5978 visites
By way of its decision no. RWR 13/2017 of 29 December 2017, the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (“OCCP”) imposed a financial penalty exceeding PLN 461,000 (approx. EUR 112,000) on Istituto Italiano del Marchio di Qualita (“IMQ”) for fixing prices and dividing the (...)

The Danish Competition Authority sanctions an association of camera distributors for cartel (Team DS)
Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Copenhagen)
Danemark 104 contributions 26145 visites
Association of camera distributors has coordinated prices and exchanged information about its members prices and other competitive parameters* On 1 December 2017, the Danish Competition Council (DCC) ruled in a case concerning anticompetitive behaviour regarding the camera market. The DCC (...)

The EU Court of Justice provides guidance to French Court on the relationship between EU Common Agricultural Policy and Competition Law (APVE)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgique 367 contributions 79406 visites
On 14 November 2017, the Court of Justice of the European Union (“ECJ”) handed down a judgment on a request for preliminary ruling from the French Supreme Court regarding the relationship between the objectives of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and those of EU competition law (C-671/15, APVE (...)

The French Competition Authority fines three leading manufacturers of PVC and linoleum floor covering for cartel (Tarkett)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visits
The Autorité has imposed sanctions totalling €302 million on the three leading manufacturers of PVC and linoleum floor covering, as a penalty for price fixing among other pratices.* Background Acting on information submitted by the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes a €302 m fine on three leading companies in the PVC and Linoleum floor coverings sector for price-fixing, sharing commercially sensitive information and signing a non-compete agreement on environmental performance advertising (Forbo / Gerflor / Tarkett / SFEC)
Franklin (Paris)
France 27 contributions 16846 visits
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McDermott Will & Emery (Paris)
France 109 contributions 50312 visits
SIGNIFICANT FINE IMPOSED BY THE FRENCH COMPETITION AUTHORITY IN FLOOR COVERINGS CARTEL* On October 18, 2017, the French Competition Authority (the “FCA”) imposed a EUR 302 million fine on the three leading companies in the PVC and linoleum floor coverings sector; Forbo, Gerflor and Tarkett, as (...)

The EU Commission fines several truck manufacturers for cartel (Scania)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgique 794 contributions 1702594 visites
Antitrust: Commission fines Scania €880 million for participating in trucks cartel* The European Commission has found that Scania broke EU antitrust rules. It colluded for 14 years with five other truck manufacturers on truck pricing and on passing on the costs of new technologies to meet (...)

The Indian Competition Authority fines 10 companies for bid rigging in coal and sand transportation tenders (Western Coalfields / Coal Carriers..)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI imposes penalty for bid-rigging in coal transportation auctions* The Competition Commission of India (’CCI’) vide order dated September 14, 2017 has imposed penalty of almost INR 12 Crore on 10 entities namely SSV Coal Carriers Pvt. Ltd (OP-1), Bimal Kumar Khandelwal (OP-2), Pravin Transport (...)

The German Competition Authority fines three manufacturers of heat shields and their representatives for cartel (Elring Klinger Abschirmtechnik)
German Competition Authority (Bonn)
Allemagne 332 contributions 68898 visites
Bundeskartellamt imposes fines on automotive part manufacturers* The Bundeskartellamt has imposed fines amounting to 9.6 million euros on three manufacturers of heat shields and their representatives. The companies involved are Elring Klinger Abschirmtechnik (Schweiz) AG, Sevelen (...)

The OECD holds a roundtable to address issues on algorithms and collusion
Norton Rose Fulbright (Brussels)
Belgique 23 contributions 10189 visites
OECD workshop addresses algorithms and collusion issues* On June 21-23, the OECD held a roundtable on the theme of “Algorithms and Collusion,” as part of a wider work stream on competition in the digital economy. The OECD roundtable reflects a shift in the debate over the antitrust implications (...)

The Latvian Competition Authority fines nine distributors of professional stage equipment for bid-rigging (SGS Sistēmas)
Konkurences padome (Riga)
Latvia 92 contributions 15366 visits
The CC detects bid-rigging among distributors of professional stage equipment* On 30 May, the Competition Council of Latvia (the CC) adopted a decision to impose a fine on nine companies, which had coordinated their activities within the framework of procurements of public and municipal (...)

The Bulgarian Competition Authority approves commitments by oil companies suspected of cartel activities (Lukoil Bulgaria / Eco Bulgaria / Shell Bulgaria / OMV Bulgaria / NIS PETROL)
Tsvetkova Bebov Komarevski (Sofia)
9 contributions 3361 visites
The Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition has approved commitments by oil companies suspected of cartel activities* On 28.03.2017, the Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition (the “Bulgarian Commission”) approved commitments by the leading Bulgarian oil companies Lukoil (...)

The French Competition Authority dismisses collusion case against car rental companies due to lack of evidence that exchange of information led to strategic changes in their behavior (Europcar / Avis / Citer / Hertz / Sixt / EDA)
Compass Lexecon (Madrid)
Espagne 3 contributions 8007 visites
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Compass Lexecon (Paris)
France 34 contributions 89477 visites
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Compass Lexecon (Madrid)
Espagne 2 contributions 1400 visites
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When Information Is Not (Market) Power: Using Quantitative Techniques To Show That Information Exchange Did Not Facilitate Collusion* Abstract On January 2015, the French competition authority claimed that some car rental companies infringed competition law by sharing monthly information (...)

The French Competition Authority drops charges against car rental companies for exchanging detailed and individualised sales information (Europcar / Sixt / Avis / Hertz)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgique 367 contributions 79406 visites
On 27 February 2017, the French Competition Authority (“FCA”) decided to close a ten-year investigation into information exchanges between car rental companies without imposing any sanction. The FCA investigated whether information exchanged through airport management authorities facilitated (...)

The Indian Competition Authority fines 7 cement manufacturers for bid rigging (State of Haryana / Cement Manufacturers)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI imposes penalty of INR 205 Crores on 7 cement manufacturers for bid-rigging in supply of cement to Director General (Supplies and Disposal), Haryana* CCI by its order dated January 19, 2017 has imposed a penalty for bid-riggingon 7 cement manufacturers, viz. Shree Cement Limited, Ultratech (...)

The EU Court of Justice confirms the EU Commission decision on the animal feed phosphates cartel (Timab Industries)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgique 794 contributions 1702594 visites
Antitrust: Commission welcomes Court of Justice judgment on Animal Feed Phosphates cartel* The European Commission welcomes today’s judgment by the EU Court of Justice dismissing in its entirety Timab’s appeal against an earlier General Court ruling. The General Court (case T-456/10) had upheld (...)

The UK Competition Authority fines suppliers of galvanized steel tanks for bid-rigging (Franklin Hodge / Balmoral Tanks / Galglass)
United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
United Kingdom 216 contributions 43484 visits
CMA fines water tank firms over £2.7 million* The CMA has today issued 2 decisions imposing fines on suppliers of galvanised steel tanks for breaching competition law. Galvanised steel tanks are used for water storage in larger buildings, such as schools, hospitals and other commercial and (...)

The EU General Court annuls a cartel settlement decision on appeal due to the Commission’s failure to sufficiently inform the undertakings on the fining methodology used (Printeos)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgique 367 contributions 79406 visites
Under the Commission’s cartel settlement procedure, an undertaking admitting liability to a cartel infringement and waiving certain procedural rights is rewarded with a 10% reduction in the fine. In the envelopes cartel case, the Commission fined five producers €19.4 million under the settlement (...)

The French Competition Authority fines several modelling agencies for cartel (L’Agence)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visits
The Autorité fines for anticompetitive agreement the modelling sector’s main professional union and 37 modelling agencies* In brief The Autorité de la concurrence today issues a decision under which it fines the main professional union of modelling agencies, the SYNAM, for having, between (...)

The Latvian Competition Council fines medical equipment traders for bid rigging (Optika&Dentika / KJ Serviss)
Konkurences padome (Riga)
Latvia 92 contributions 15366 visits
The CC fines Medical Equipment Traders for collusive Behaviour in Public Procurements* On 8 September, the Competition Council (the CC) fined two medical equipment traders SIA OPTIKA&DENTIKA and SIA KJ SERVISS for participating in a cartel agreement in four public procurements. Due to the (...)

The US FTC charges an undertaking for an alleged invitation to collude with another undertaking that served as both a competitor and a supplier (Fortiline)
Morgan Lewis (New York)
États-Unis 1 contribution 187 visites
This article has been nominated for the 2017 Antitrust Writing Awards. Click here to learn more about the Antitrust Writing Awards. A dual distribution relationship does not protect against Section 5 liability for an invitation to collude. For the first time, the Federal Trade Commission (...)

The Indian Competition Authority fines a professional association and its compliant pharmaceutical member company for anticompetitive agreements (Maruti & Company / KCDA Karnataka Chemists & Druggists Association / Lupin)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI again fines Pharma Company for Anti-Competitive Activities * The Competition Commission of India (“CCI/ Commission”) by way of its order dated 28.07.2016 has found the Karnataka Chemists and Druggist Association (“KCDA”) , Lupin Ltd. (“Lupin”) and their Office bearers to be in contravention of (...)

The German Competition Authority fines TV studio operators for cartel (Studio Berlin Adlershof)
German Competition Authority (Bonn)
Allemagne 332 contributions 68898 visites
Bundeskartellamt imposes fines on TV studio operators* The Bundeskartellamt has imposed fines amounting to a total of approx. 3.1 million euros on Studio Berlin Adlershof (SBA) GmbH, its affiliate Studio Berlin Broadcast GmbH (both located in Berlin) and Bavaria Studios & Production (...)

The Latvian Competition Authority fines companies specialized in water infrastructure development service for bid rigging (Sistēmas)
Konkurences padome (Riga)
Latvia 92 contributions 15366 visits
The Competition Council of Latvia Fines Three Companies for Collusive Bidding by Contractors* On 8 July 2016, the Competition Council (CC) of Latvia has fined three companies – SIA CO Sistēmas, SIA SAN B, and SIA Talsu spriegums – for rigging a public tenders. Companies were found to coordinate (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines 8 companies and 9 of their executives for their involvement in a cartel and bid rigging case in the public procurement process on the national railway market (Infraestructuras Ferroviarias)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgium 713 contributions 202487 visits
The CNMC fines four companies and nine of their executives € 5.64 million for dividing up the awards for supplying ADIF with rail turnouts* The CNMC fined € 5.58 million Amurrio Ferrocarril y Equipos, S.A, Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios, S.L., Talleres Alegría, S.A. and Duro Felguera Rail, S.A.U for a (...)

The Indian Competition Authority clarifies that mere collusion or coordination is not enough to hold undertakings in contravention of the provisions of the Competition Act (Shri Nirmal / Ruchi Soya / Betul Oils / Ganganagar)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
CCI: Mere collusion or coordination is not enough to hold the Parties in contravention of the provisions of the Competition Act* The CCI, by way of its order dated June 28, 2016 held that M/s Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd., M/s Betul Oils Ltd and M/s Ganganagar Commodity Ltd. were not in (...)

The Italian Regional Administrative Court of Latium sets aside a previous infringement decision made by the Italian Competition Authority on a bid-rigging practice (Rai servizi Post-Produzione)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121319 visits
By a judgment issued in Rai servizi post-produzione the Regional Administrative Court of Latium (the Court) reversed a previous infringement decision made by the Italian Competition Authority (ICA). The Court held that the ICA failed to establish an anti-competitive concerted practice to the (...)

The Croatian High Administrative Court fines several personal protection firms for cartel (Sokol Marić)
Croatian Competition Agency (Zagreb)
Croatie 68 contributions 11237 visites
Decisions of the High Administrative Court* In the first case, by dismissing the claim of the claimants the High Administrative Court backed the CCA decision of 17 March 2015 establishing that the personal protection firms Sokol Marić, AKD-Zaštita, Securitas Hrvatska, Klemm Sigurnost, (...)

The Finnish Competition Authority inspects bus and coach operators suspected of collusion
Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (Helsinki)
Finland 60 contributions 8648 visits
FCCA has inspected bus and coach operators in Southwest Finland* The purpose of the inspections was to find out whether the operators were guilty of unlawful collaboration between competitors. The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority has a right to carry out inspections under the (...)

The Moldovan Competition Authority accepts commitments from tour operators and airlines in the charter air passenger transport market (Scavolin)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law (Macau)
China 282 contributions 215787 visits
On 4 November 2011 the Moldovan Competition Authority (CC) concluded its investigation into the alleged anti-competitive practices on the market for charter air passenger transport by accepting a series of commitments offered by the tour operators and airline companies involved. The case (...)

The Indian Competition Appellate Tribunal annuls a fine for alleged collusion by a professional transport association due to lack of evidence by the Competition Authority (Indian Foundation of Transport Research & Training / All India Motor Transport Congress)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
COMPAT sets-aside penalty imposed on All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) for alleged increases of transport rates in collusion* COMPAT by its order dated April 18, 2016 has set-aside the order of CCI where AIMTC was penalized for allegedly exhorting truck transporters for increasing (...)

The Hellenic Competition Authority accepts commitments proposed by steel producers regarding the exchange of information in the context of their trade association (Sidenor)
Hellenic Competition Authority (Athens)
Grèce 52 contributions 9520 visites
The HCC accepts commitments by steel producers regarding the exchange of information in the context of their trade association, while further rejecting complaints about other alleged infringements in the markets for the production, distribution and accreditation of steel products* The HCC (...)

The Indian Competition Appellate Tribunal annuls a bid-rigging fine for multi-product companies who are fined only on their case product turnover and identical prices are not prima facie illegal (DG S&D / A. R. Polymers)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
Competition Appellate Tribunal (COMPAT) sets-aside penalty imposed on Jungle Boot suppliers for alleged bid rigging* COMPAT by its order dated April 12, 2016 has set-aside the penalty imposed on suppliers of Polyester Blended Duck Ankle Boot Rubber Sole/ Appellants (Jungle Boots) against (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority initiates proceedings for a suspected cartel during a procurement of health equipment aimed at saving energy (Siemens Healthcare)
Hungarian Competition Authority (Budapest)
Hungary 60 contributions 10396 visits
The GVH has initiated a proceeding for a suspected cartel* On 11 April 2016 the Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal – GVH) initiated a competition supervision proceeding against several undertakings (Siemens Healthcare Kft., GE Hungary Ipari és Kereskedelmi Kft., PHILIPS (...)

The Kiev Commercial Court of Appeal quashes a Lower Court’s ruling upholding the decision of the Antimonopoly Committee in a case involving allegations of anticompetitive information exchange (AC Nielsen)
Asters (Kiev)
Ukraine 10 contributions 2258 visits
On 31 March 2016, the Kiev Commercial Court of Appeal (the "Court of Appeal") quashed the ruling of the Kiev Commercial Court (the "Lower Court") upholding the decision of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (the "AMC") in the case involving allegations that certain trade chains had (...)

The Finnish Market Court rejects the penalty proposed by the Competition Authority concerning power line matter (Empower)
Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (Helsinki)
Finland 60 contributions 8648 visits
Market Court rejects FCCA’s penalty proposal concerning power line matter* The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) had proposed that the Market Court impose a EUR 35 million penalty on Eltel Networks Oy and Eltel Group Oy for unlawful collaboration between competitors in power (...)

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York confirms that cooperative processes such as setting benchmark interest rates may be subject to antitrust laws (Alaska Electrical Pension / Bank of America)
Constantine Cannon (New York)
États-Unis 1 contribution 140 visites
Competitors engaged in cooperative processes find they face competing approaches by Southern District of New York Judges weighing antitrust liability*The scope of antitrust liability for competitors engaged in cooperative processes—such as setting benchmark interest rates—became murkier this week (...)

The Dutch Competition Authority fines cold-storage firms for cartel (Kloosbeheer)
Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (The Hague)
Netherlands 135 contributions 18445 visits
ACM imposed fines of EUR 12.5 million on cold-storage firms* The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has imposed fines, totaling almost EUR 12.5 million, in three cases on four companies in the cold storage industry (freezing and refrigerated storage). Five executives were (...)

The French Competition Authority launches unannounced inspections in the market of fire safety systems equipping businesses and buildings receiving the public
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visits
Fire safety systems equipping businesses and buildings receiving the public* The General Rapporteur of the Autorité de la concurrence states that unannounced inspections were carried out on February 18th in the sector of fire safety systems equipping businesses and buildings receiving the (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority launches unannounced inspections in the credit sector
Portuguese Competition Authority (Lisbon)
Portugal 68 contributions 17287 visits
The Portuguese Competition Authority confirms unannounced inspections in the specialised credit sector* The Portuguese Competition Authority (the PCA) confirms that it carried out unannounced inspections on 28 and 29 January 2016, at 13 premises of various specialised credit institutions (...)

The EU Court of Justice gives a preliminary ruling for an alleged collusion among a number of travel agencies through an online travel booking system (Eturas)
Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (Munich)
Allemagne 18 contributions 3662 visites
On 21 January 2016 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave a preliminary ruling upon the request of the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania in the Eturas case. At the core of the case was an alleged collusion among a number of travel agencies through an online travel booking system (...)

The Indian Competition Authority closes cartel case against general insurance public sector enterprises and their associations (TPAs / GIPSA)
Vaish Associates Advocates (New Delhi)
India 256 contributions 31908 visits
Competition Commission of India (CCI) closes case against General Insurance Public Sector Undertakings and their association for alleged cartelization* The CCI, by its order dated January 4, 2016, has closed a case alleging anti-competitive agreements between the four PSU general insurance (...)

The Hong Kong Competition Authority receives an application for block exemption regarding liner shipping agreements (Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association)
GeyerGorey (Washington)
États-Unis 17 contributions 3236 visites
Hong Kong Shipping Association Seeks Liner Exemption* The Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association has submitted to the Hong Kong Competition Commission for consideration a block exemption for liner shipping agreements. The HK Commission gave interested parties until March 24 to comment on the (...)

The Indian Competition Commission fines airlines for fixing fuel surcharge and shows a change in the evidentiary standard in cartel cases involving price parallelism and circumstantial evidence (Jet Airways / InterGlobe Aviation / Spice Jet)
Amit Sibal (New Delhi)
Inde 12 contributions 2090 visites
CCI imposes penalty of USD 38.6 million on airlines for fixing fuel surcharge* Just when one almost thought that the year 2015 would go by without a major cartel fine, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) published a decision on 17 November 2015 imposing penalties of USD 38.6 million (...)

The Turkish Council of State annuls the decision of the Competition Authority which dismissed the complaint at the preliminary inquiry stage without evaluating the information that showed the collusion (Pegas / Anex / Tez / Odeon Tours)
Queen Mary University (London)
Royaume-Uni 2 contributions 657 visites
This case comment analyses the judgment of the Turkish Council of State in which it has annulled the decision of the Turkish Competition Authority that rejects the complaint of a rival at the stage of preliminary inquiry without assessing the evidence demonstrating the collusion between four (...)

The Greek Competition Authority accepts the commitments proposed by manufacturers on the market for the sale of tobacco products (Philip Morris)
Hellenic Competition Authority (Athens)
Grèce 52 contributions 9520 visites
HCC accepted commitments proposed by tobacco manufacturers to meet competition concerns in the market for the sale of tobacco products in Greece* The Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC), by a unanimous decision, accepted commitments proposed by the leading producers of tobacco products in (...)

The Latvian Competition Authority issues warnings against 15 tenderers of public procurements suspected of bid-rigging
Konkurences padome (Riga)
Latvia 92 contributions 15366 visits
Competition Authority warns 15 Undertakings* In the first half of 2015, the Competition Council (CC) of Latvia has issued warnings to 15 undertakings under suspicion of breach of the Competition Law. Most warnings have been issued to tenderers of public procurements, thus once again proving (...)

The UK Competition Authority fines an association of undertakings for anti-competitive information exchange and pricing agreements (Consultant Eye Surgeon Partnership)
Stephenson Harwood (London)
Royaume-Uni 4 contributions 1613 visites
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United Kingdom’s Competition Authority - CMA (London)
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 576 visites
I. Background On 26 May 2013, the UK Competition Authority (the OFT at the time), received a complaint alleging concerns that Consultant Eye Surgeon Limited Liability Partnerships (“LLPs”), via their membership association CESP Limited (“CESP Ltd”), were agreeing prices and sharing prices and (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines 21 car manufacturers and distributers and two consulting firms for exchanging commercially sensitive and strategic information (Fabricantes de automóviles)
Linklaters (Brussels)
Belgique 2 contributions 1110 visites
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Liège University (Liège)
Belgique 1 contribution 647 visites
The CNMC (Spain’s National Authority for Markets and Competition) Council issues a 171 million euros fine against 21 automobile manufacturing and distributing companies and two consulting companies for exchanging commercially sensitive and strategic information. File resolution S/0482/13 (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines 23 companies for participating in a cartel in the automobile manufacturing and distribution markets (Fabricantes de automóviles)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgium 713 contributions 202487 visits
The CNMC has issued 171 million euros in fines to 21 automobile manufacturing and distributing companies in Spain* On 28/07/2015, The CNMC has issued a total of 171 million euros in fines to 21 companies present in the distribution and marketing of motor vehicles market and/or the provision of (...)

The EU Commission fines cargo train operators in a cartel settlement (Express Interfracht / Schenker)
Constantine Cannon (London)
Royaume-Uni 10 contributions 4987 visites
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Constantine Cannon (London)
Royaume-Uni 5 contributions 2645 visites
European Commission Slams Cargo Train Operators With 49 Million Euro Fine In Cartel Settlement* The European Commission (“EC”) today imposed fines totalling 49,154,000 euros on Express Interfracht, part of the Austrian railway company Österreichische Bundesbahnen, and Schenker, a subsidiary of (...)

The Latvian Competition Authority fines several tenderers for bid rigging in the market of timber preparation (Amils)
Konkurences padome (Riga)
Latvia 92 contributions 15366 visits
Competition Authority fines 11 tenderers of logging procurement* On 14 July, the Competition Council (CC) of Latvia took a decision to fine 11 undertakings for coordinating their tenders with one or several other tenderer in a public procurement of timber preparation. For such actions, the (...)

The Mexican Competition Authority opens an ex-officio investigation concerning possible absolute monopolistic practices in the market for the provision of administrative services for workers’ pension funds (AFORES)
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexique 83 contributions 15027 visites
COFECE to Investigate Possible Absolute Monopolistic Practices in the Market for Pension Fund Administration Services in Mexico* Through the Mexican Federal Official Gazette and its website, the Federal Economic Competition Commission’s (COFECE or Commission) Investigative Authority announced (...)

The Italian Administrative Court of Second Instance confirms the annulment in parte qua of the Competition Authority’s decision regarding a cartel in the market for road and highway barriers (Metalmeccanica)
Lipani Catricalà (Rome)
Italie 13 contributions 3078 visites
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DLA Piper (Rome)
Italie 1 contribution 244 visites
1. Premise – The present work is aimed at focusing on the decision of 2 July 2015 No. 3291 issued by the Italian Administrative Court of Second Instance (i.e. Consiglio di Stato, hereinafter the “CdS”), highlighting the aspects of interest (hereinafter, the “Judgement”). The Judgement closed a (...)

The US Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit affirms ruling condemning masterminding the creation, organization and implementation of a conspiracy by five ebook publishers (Apple)
Sheppard Mullin (San Francisco)
États-Unis 2 contributions 307 visites
The Second Circuit’s Apple Ebooks Opinion* The Second Circuit affirmed the district court and held, 2 to 1, that defendant Apple Inc. had violated Section 1 by masterminding the creation, organization and implementation of a conspiracy by five publishers of ebooks that benefited Apple, as Apple (...)

The Italian Competition Authority accepts commitments to amend a co-marketing agreement in the pharmaceutical sector, and closes its antitrust investigation (Novartis / Italfarmaco)
Bonelli Erede (Rome)
Italie 41 contributions 51704 visites
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Bonelli Erede (Rome)
Italie 11 contributions 3751 visites
With Decision No. 25508 of 4 June 2015, the Italian Competition Authority (the “ICA”), accepted the commitments proposed by Novartis Farma S.p.A. (“Novartis”) and Italfarmaco S.p.A. (“Italfarmaco”, together the “Parties”) and closed the investigation opened following a complaint lodged by the (...)

The Mexican Competition Authority opens an investigation in the air transport sector
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexique 83 contributions 15027 visites
COFECE initiates investigation into air transport sector* Through the Mexican Federal Official Gazette and its website, the Federal Economic Competition Commission’s (COFECE) Investigative Authority publicly announced the extract of its ex-officio investigation initiation decision under file (...)

The Croatian Competition Authority issues two cartel decisions concerning the personal protection market and the market of provision of berth and mooring services (Sokol Marić / AKD-Zaštita / Securitas Hrvatska)
Croatian Competition Agency (Zagreb)
Croatie 68 contributions 11237 visites
Two cartel decisions by the CCA* The Croatian Competition Agency adopted two decisions on prohibited horizontal agreements, first, in the provision of personal protection services involving seven undertakings and second, in the provision of berth and mooring services, where nine undertakings (...)

The Mexican Supreme Court of Justice upholds the decision of the Competition Authority concerning a bid-rigging in the pharmaceutical sector (Baxter, Fresenius, Eli Lilly and Pisa)
Mexican Competition Authority (Mexico City)
Mexique 83 contributions 15027 visites
The Supreme Court of Justice decides on bid rigging in social security public tenders case* The Mexican Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) confirmed the legality of a resolution issued by the extinct Federal Competition Commission in 2010, against pharmaceutical enterprises Baxter, Fresenius, Eli (...)

The US DoJ files the first e-commerce case regarding price fixing (Topkins)
GeyerGorey (Washington)
États-Unis 17 contributions 3236 visites
Antitrust Division Files First E-Commerce Case* David Topkins, a former executive at the E-Commerce Merchants Trade Association, an e-commerce seller of posters, prints and framed art, has agreed to plead guilty for conspiring to fix the prices of posters sold online. The one-count felony (...)

The Hellenic Competition Authority sends a statement of objections to undertakings for suspected cartel in the steel long products sector (Sidenor / Hellenic Halyvourgia / Halyvourgiki)
Hellenic Competition Authority (Athens)
Grèce 52 contributions 9520 visites
Statement of Objections addressed to companies active in the production and trading of steel products regarding alleged infringements of competition rules * Following the issuing of a Statement of Objections, the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) will convene on 29.05.2015 to hear a case (...)

The French Competition Authority issues an opinion concerning the cooperation agreements in the food retail sector
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visits
Joint purchasing agreements in the food retail sector* The Autorité de la concurrence issues an opinion in which it proposes a grid for the general analysis of risks arising from the cooperation agreements recently concluded and provides recommendations CONTEXT Cooperation agreements Three (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes fines on three millers for cartel in the market of flour sold to craft bakeries (Axiane Meunerie / Minoteries Cantin / Grands Moulins de Strasbourg)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visites
The Autorité de la concurrence fines 3 millers for anticompetitive agreements on increases in the price of flour sold to craft bakeries.* The Autorité de la concurrence issues today a decision whereby it fines Axiane meunerie, Minoteries Cantin and Grands Moulins de Strasbourg a total of 1.1 (...)

The EU Court of Justice considers that the bilateral exchange of pre-pricing informations to a concerted practice with the object of restricting competition is an anticompetitive practice (Dole)
Herbert Smith Freehills (Brussels)
Belgique 74 contributions 49099 visites
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Herbert Smith Freehills (London)
Royaume-Uni 31 contributions 7835 visites
This article has been nominated for the 2016 Antitrust Writing Awards. Click here to learn more about the Antitrust Writing Awards. In its ruling of 19 March 2015 (Case C-286/13P) relating to the banana cartel, the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) dismissed the appeal by banana importer Dole (...)

The EU Court of Justice decides that the General Court was correct in finding that the exchange of pre-pricing information was a restriction of competition by object under Art. 101 TFEU (Dole)
Simmons & Simmons (London)
Royaume-Uni 19 contributions 3779 visites
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Simmons & Simmons (London)
Royaume-Uni 12 contributions 3327 visites
Appeal in banana cartel results in confirmation that the analysis of bilateral information exchange as an object infringement by Commission and General Court was correct. In Brief In its judgment on 19 March 2015, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) concluded that Dole’s appeal (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes fines on several producers of fresh dairy for cartel (Yoghurt cartel)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visites
Cartel in the fresh dairy products sector (yoghurts, fromages blancs, milk-based desserts, etc.)* The Autorité de la concurrence fines €192.7 million an anticompetitive agreement on dairy products sold under retail private labels The Autorité issues today a decision in which it finds the (...)

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice finds nine defendants not guilty on 60 charges of bid-rigging and conspiracy to rig bids (Durward)
Stikeman Elliott (Ottawa)
Canada 2 contributions 333 visites
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Stikeman Elliott (Ottawa)
Canada 1 contribution 156 visites
Canada’s Competition Bureau loses major bid-rigging case: 60 not guilty verdicts* In a further blow to the track record of the Competition Bureau and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in contested criminal trials, on April 27, 2015, a jury in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice found (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines exchange of strategic information in the dairy industry (Danone / Lactalis Iberia / Nestlé)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
CNMC Imposes Fines of € 88 000 000 in Dairy Industry* On 3 March 2015, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) fined nine companies and two sectoral associations that operate in the raw cow’s milk supply market in Spain a total amount of € 88.2 million for a breach of Article (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines nine dairy companies and two associations for alleged exchanges of information relating to purchases of raw milk (Dairy Industry 2)
Cuatrecasas (Barcelona)
1 contribution 114 visites
On February 26, 2015, the Spanish National Commission for Markets and Competition (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y de la Competencia or “CNMC”) determined that nine companies and two associations in the dairy sector had engaged in a number of exchanges of commercially sensitive information (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines various petrol product operator for anti-competitive agreements (Repsol / CEPSA / BP)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
CNMC Fines Various Petrol Product Operators a Total of € 32 400 000 for Anti-competitive Agreements* On 24 February 2015, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) sanctioned Repsol S.A., Disa Corporación Petrolifera S.A., Meroil S.A., Galp Energía España S.A., BP España S.A. (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority fines a cartel in the energy sector (Lukrida / Envija / Manfula)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
Competition Council Hits Cartel in Energy Sector* On 11 February 2015, the Competition Council (the Council) found that UAB Lukrida (Lukrida) and UAB Manfula (Manfula), the main market players in the construction of cogeneration power plants in Lithuania, sought to restrict competition in the (...)

The Hellenic Competition Commission sends statement of objections to suspected bid rigging participants in the radio audience measurement market (MRB and FOCUS)
Hellenic Competition Authority (Athens)
Greece 52 contributions 9520 visits
Statement of Objections addressed to undertakings active in the market of media measurement services regarding an alleged infringement of article 1 Law 3959/2011 (and/ or article 1 Law 703/1977)* Following the issuing of a statement of objections, the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) will (...)

The EU Commission fines a broker for facilitating Yen Libor cartels by serving as communication channel and disseminating misleading information about expected rates (Icap)
Alston & Bird (London)
6 contributions 1558 visites
European Commission Fines London-Based Broker ICAP 14.9 Million Euros For Facilitating Yen Libor Cartels* The European Commission (“EC”) has fined London-based ICAP, the world’s largest broker of interest-rate swaps, for facilitating bank cartels in the market for Yen-denominated interest rate (...)

The Italian Competition Authority fines several undertakings for their participation to a cartel in the market of depuration of muds from sewage waters (Gare Gestioni Fanghi)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121316 visits
Introduction By a decision made on 3 February 2015 in the case I765, Gare Gestioni Fanghi, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has found Alan, Azienda Agricola Allievi, CRE, Ecotrass and Evergreen Italia to have infringed Article 2 of the Italian Competition Act n. 287/90, corresponding to (...)

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York allows alleged manipulation of foreign exchange rates claim to go forward, distinguishing the case from the LIBOR ones (FX Benchmark rates)
Siemens (New York)
États-Unis 21 contributions 6962 visites
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Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler (New York)
États-Unis 2 contributions 407 visites
Motion to Dismiss Denied in FX Rigging Case* A federal judge in New York on Wednesday allowed a consolidated class action by U.S.-based investors concerning the rigging of the foreign exchange (FX) market to move forward. In denying a motion to dismiss, U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield (...)

The Japan Fair Trade Commission issues a cease and desist order against members of an association and imposes surcharges on them for having substantially restrained competition in the market of the concrete products (Abashiri Concrete Products Association)
Japan Fair Trade Commission (Tokyo)
Japon 115 contributions 18517 visites
The JFTC issued cease and desist order to Abashiri Concrete Products Association and surcharge payment orders to members of the Association* The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) today issued cease and desist order to Abashiri Concrete Products Association (hereinafter referred to as the (...)

The Italian Competition Authority decides that commitments submitted by pharmaceutical companies in order to alleviate competition concerns should have been published (Arca / Novartis-Italfarmaco)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgique 10 contributions 5312 visites
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) decided that, according to Art. 14-ter of Italian Law 287/1990, the commitments that Novartis and Italfarmaco had submitted in order to alleviate concerns in terms of an alleged infringement of Art. 101 TFEU, should have been published, both in its (...)

The Slovak Competition Authority imposes fines on several banks for having coordinated their activities in the area of providing financial services
Slovak Competition Authority (Bratislava)
Slovaquie 25 contributions 3012 visites
AMO SR fined the undertaking in banking sector* On December 19, 2014 the Division of Cartels issued a decision imposing a fine in the total amount of EUR 185 939 on the undertaking acting in banking sector in the Slovak Republic. The findings of the Office show that during the years of 2010, (...)

The Latvian Competition Council imposes fines on dealers and importer of cars for their participation to a cartel (Autocentrs, Moller Auto Krasta)
Konkurences padome (Riga)
Lettonie 92 contributions 15367 visites
The CC Fines Dealers of Volkswagen for 7.6 Million Euros* On 15 December, the Competition Council (CC) of Latvia imposed fines to official dealers and importer of Volkswagen cars in Latvia for taking part in a cartel. For at least five years undertakings systematically coordinated their (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority imposes fines on several driving schools for concerting on the prices of their trainings (ATI Autóközlekedési Tanintézet)
Hungarian Competition Authority (Budapest)
Hongrie 60 contributions 10396 visites
The driving schools in Győr have concerted the price of their trainings* According to the decision of the Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal – GVH), the ATI Autóközlekedési Tanintézet Kft., "BILUX" Győr-Moson-Sopron Megyei Gépjárművezető Kft., HORVÁTH TANODA Oktató és (...)

The EU Commission appeals a Belgian Court’s judgement in a cartel damages case (Otis / KONE / Schindler / ThyssenKrupp)
Hausfeld (London)
Royaume-Uni 8 contributions 3288 visites
European Commission’s damages litigation illustrates challenges in domestic regimes pre-implementation of the Damages Directive* In January 2015 the European Commission announced its intention to appeal a judgment of the Belgian Commercial Court which dismissed the Commission’s claim for €6 (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines companies for their participation to a cartel in the recovery and sale of waste paper and cardboard sector (Unión de empresas de recuperación)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
CNMC Fines Companies for Cartel in Recovery and Sale of Waste Paper and Cardboard* On 19 November 2014, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) imposed fines amounting to € 3 830 000 on 14 companies active in recovery and sale of waste paper and cardboard for an (...)

The French Competition Authority allows a subsidiary to opt for a national settlement procedure even though its parent company challenges the charges of a cartel (AGS Martinique / Mobilitas)
Frieh Associés (Paris)
France 10 contributions 9260 visites
In a decision issued on November 18th, 2014 , the French competition authority (hereafter the "FCA") fined three removal companies for having colluded in presenting cover quotes in the military personnel removal sector in Martinique. National regulatory provisions set a competitive process for (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes fines on three removal companies for having presented cover quotes to distort competition in the military personnel relocation removals market (AGS Martinique / Mobilitas)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 622 contributions 251609 visites
The Autorité de la concurrence fines three removal companies for having colluded in presenting cover quotes* The Autorité de la concurrence has issued a decision in which it fines three removal companies for having presented cover quotes in order to distort competition in the military personnel (...)

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority proposes to fine a power line builder for participating in a cartel (Eltel and Empower)
Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (Helsinki)
Finlande 60 contributions 8648 visites
The FCCA proposes a EUR 35 million fine on power line builder Eltel for participating in a cartel* The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) today submitted a proposal to the Market Court to impose a fine of EUR 35 million on Eltel Networks Oy and Eltel Group Oy (hereinafter (...)

The Indian Competition Authority imposes penalties on companies for price-fixing through circulation of daily price bulletins amongst themselves and limitation of supply (Indian Sugar Mills)
Amit Sibal (New Delhi)
Inde 12 contributions 2090 visites
Guest Post From India: “Of Price Bulletins and Dawn Raids”* Trade associations seem to be the flavor of the day for the CCI these days. Less than 4 days after passing an order fining the Chemists and Druggists Association, Goa, the Competition Commission of India (the “CCI”) has imposed penalties (...)

The EU Commission imposes fines of nearly €94 millions on four major banks for collusive behaviours (RBS / JPMorgan / UBS / Credit Suisse)
Alston & Bird (London)
6 contributions 1558 visites
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King’s College (London)
Royaume-Uni 2 contributions 591 visites
European Commission Settles Two Swiss Franc-Related Derivatives Investigations* The European Commission has settled two cartel investigations and sanctioned four major banks in the Swiss Franc-related derivatives market, imposing total fines of approximately 94 million euros, for violations of (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines manufacturers of pallets and sectoral association in cartel case (EUR/EPAL and CALIPAL)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
CNMC Fines Manufacturers of Pallets and Sectoral Association in Cartel Case* On 22 September 2014, the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) imposed fines totalling € 4 730 000 on 24 companies operating on the Spanish EUR/EPAL quality-controlled wooden pallet market and the (...)

The Italian Competition Authority closes by a commitment decision an Article 101 TFEU investigation against a purchase supercentre set up by many supermarket chains (Centrale italiana)
Giannino SI (Monserrato)
Italy 142 contributions 121316 visits
In the Case I768 Purchase Supercentre1 the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has closed by a commitment decision an Article 101 TFEU investigation against Centrale Italiana (CI), a purchase supercentre set up by many supermarket chains. The ICA believed that the CI activities might restrain (...)

The German Competition Authority again imposes fines on several manufacturers of concrete paving stones for having entered price-fixing agreements (AHE Verbundsteine Betonwaren)
German Competition Authority (Bonn)
Germany 332 contributions 68898 visits
Press Release published on the official website of the German Competition Authority. Bundeskartellamt imposes further fines on manufacturers of concrete paving stones on account of price-fixing agreements* The Bundeskartellamt has concluded its investigations in the cartel proceedings against (...)

The Japan Fair Trade Commission issues a cease and desist order and imposes surcharges on two stell ball manufacturers for having implemented several anticompetitive agreements (Tsubaki Nakashima and Amatsuji Steel Ball)
Japan Fair Trade Commission (Tokyo)
Japon 115 contributions 18517 visites
The JFTC Issued Cease and Desist Order and Surcharge Payment Order to Steel Ball Manufacturer* The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) today issued the cease and desist order and the surcharge payment order to Tsubaki Nakashima Co., Ltd (Tsubaki Nakashima), finding that the company and Amatsuji (...)

The Austrian Cartel Court imposes fines in a building insulation cartel (Austotherm / Steinbacher)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
Fines Imposed in Building Insulation Cartel Case* In September 2014, the Cartel Court imposed a fine on Austotherm, a producer of insulation products, for having taken part into a cartel in the distribution of polystyrene insulating material. So far, the producers of insulation materials (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority imposes fines of € 1 million on one producer of TV and computer monitor tubes for having implementing anticompetitive practices (Samsung SDI / LG Philips Displays)
Hungarian Competition Authority (Budapest)
Hongrie 60 contributions 10396 visites
Press Release published on the official website of the Hungarian Competition Authority. Fine imposed by the GVH for restrictive agreement* The Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH – the Hungarian Competition Authority) stated that Samsung SDI (Samsung SDI Co. Ltd. in joint and several liability with (...)

The Latvian Competition Council imposes fines on two undertakings for bid rigging in local public tender proceedings (Sliežu transportbūve / Komforta standarts)
Konkurences padome (Riga)
Lettonie 92 contributions 15367 visites
The Competition Council fines Two Construction Project Developers* On 31 July, the Competition Council (CC) of Latvia took a decision to fine two construction project developers – SIA „Sliežu transportbūve” and SIA „Komforta standarts” – for bid rigging. Both undertakings exchanged business data while (...)

The US FTC settles charges of invitation to collude of two UPC resellers (InstantUPCCOdes.com / Nationwide Barcode / 680 Digital)
Sheppard Mullin (New York)
États-Unis 3 contributions 585 visites
Two UPC Resellers Settle FTC Invitation to Collude Investigation* On July 28, 2014, the Federal Trade Commission accepted, subject to final approval, settlements with InstantUPCCodes.com (“Instant”) and Nationwide Barcode (“Nationwide”), two of the leading barcode resellers, and their principals, (...)

The US FTC settles charges of two Internet resellers of UPC barcodes used by retailers for violation of the FTC Act by inviting competitors to collude to raise prices for barcodes sold over the Internet (InstantUPCCOdes.com / Nationwide Barcode / 680 Digital)
Steve Szentesi Law Corporation (Vancouver)
Canada 52 contributions 12175 visites
Scanner Emergency in Aisle Five: US FTC Settles Bar Code Seller Invitation to Collude Case* In an interesting case that caught my eye yesterday and today, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed a settlement in a case involving allegations that an online bar code re-seller engaged (...)

The Italian Competition Authority accepts commitments in a case concerning resale price maintenance by a producer of renewable energy converters (Power-One)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
Italy: The Italian Competition Authority accepts Commitments in Energy Converters Case* On 2 July 2014, the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) adopted a commitment decision in relation to an alleged violation of Article 101 TFEU by Power-One Italy Spa (Power-One), an Italian undertaking (...)

The Hungarian Competition imposes fines for exchange of information via market research services concerning the individual sales volumes for contact lenses (CooperVision Optikai Cikkeket Forgalmazó)
Hungarian Competition Authority (Budapest)
Hongrie 60 contributions 10396 visites
Restrictive agreements on the market of contact lenses* The Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal - GVH) decided that CooperVision Optikai Cikkeket Forgalmazó Kft., FOTEX-OFOTÉRT Optikai és Fotócikk Kereskedelmi Kft., Johnson Johnson Egészségügyi és Babaápolási Termékeket Gyártó (...)

The EU Court of Justice accepts the application of a strict presumption under EU law providing for the liability of a parent company, which holds all of a subsidiary’s capital shares (FLS Plast)
King’s College (London)
Royaume-Uni 4 contributions 900 visites
On June 19, 2014, in FLS Plast A/S v European Commission the European Court of Justice considered application of a strict rebuttable presumption under EU Law, which provides for a parent company to be held liable for its subsidiary’s anti-competitive market conduct, where the parent company (...)

The Ankara Administrative Court rules that the Fining Guidelines of the Turkish Competition Authority violate the hierarchy of norms in the Turkish legal system (MPS Metal/Bekap Metal)
University of Sussex (Brighton)
Royaume-Uni 31 contributions 10892 visites
This study analyses the judgment of the Ankara Administrative Court in which it has annulled the decision of Turkish Competition Authority (TCA) to impose fines on MPS Metal and Bekap Metal for bid rigging, price coordination and exchange of information in the market for packaging steel straps (...)

The Competition Commission of Singapore issues first infringement decision in relation to an international cartel (CCS / Ball and roller bearings manufacturers)
BHP Billiton (Singapore)
Singapour 12 contributions 8279 visites
On 27 May 2014, the Competition Commission of Singapore (the “CCS”) announced that it had issued an infringement decision, and imposed total financial penalties amounting to over S$9 million, against four Japanese bearings manufacturers and their Singapore subsidiaries (collectively, the (...)

The Austrian Cartel Court imposes a fine of € 290 000 on a manufacturer of building insulation materials for resale price maintenance and exchange of information (Swisspor)
European Commission (Brussels)
Belgique 713 contributions 202487 visites
Austria: New Decision imposing Fines in Building Insulation Case* On 16 May 2014, the Cartel Court imposed a fine of € 290 000 on Swisspor, a manufacturer of building insulation materials, for infringing Article 101 TFEU and § 1 Austrian Cartel Act. The Court found that the undertaking (...)

The French Court of Appeal upholds an appeal against a fine imposed by the French competition authority for price fixing in the endive market (CERAFEL)
University of New South Wales (Sydney)
Australie 5 contributions 658 visites
This article was originally published on In Competition by King & Wood Mallesons (click here). Lettuce leaf them alone Last month, the French Court of Appeal upheld an appeal against a fine imposed by the French competition authority for price fixing in the endive market. The endive (...)

The US FTC apprises that it continues to maintain an active antitrust enforcement focus on trade association activity
Sheppard Mullin (New York)
États-Unis 3 contributions 585 visites
FTC Targeting Trade Associations?* On May 1, the Federal Trade Commission issued a press release concerning the antitrust risks involved in trade association activity and cautioned such groups that the Commission continues to maintain an active antitrust enforcement focus on trade association (...)

The German Competition Authority imposes further fines amounting to 231.2 million Euros in its proceedings concerning illegal price fixing agreements for beer (Carlsberg / Radeberger / Bolten / Erzquell / Früh / Gaffel)
German Competition Authority (Bonn)
Germany 332 contributions 68898 visits
Cartel proceedings against breweries concluded with imposition of further fines* The Bundeskartellamt has imposed further fines amounting to 231.2 million Euros in its proceedings concerning illegal price fixing agreements for beer. The fines were imposed on the companies Carlsberg Deutschland (...)

The Helsinki District Court dismisses several damages actions against wood industry actors due to prescription (Laatikkala Oy, Metsäliitto Osuuskunta Stora Enso Oyj, and UPM-Kymmene)
University of Helsinki
Finlande 12 contributions 3035 visites
The Helsinki District Court has decided to dismiss several damages actions against raw wood market buyer side competition restriction participants. Approximately 650 damages actions against major wood industry actors have been pending before the Helsinki District Court, which has opted for (...)

The Russian Competition Authority fines three companies for cartel in the market of an auction for snow removal (Petrovsky Park)
Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (Moscow)
France 292 contributions 36370 visites
Friendship at an auction turned into fines* On 17th March 2014, the Moscow Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in (Moscow OFAS Russia) fined “Kommunalny Sector” Ltd., “Petrovsky Park” Ltd. and “PromStroiTorg” Ltd. for a cartel at an auction for snow removal. The total size of the fines (...)

The Spanish National Court clarifies that associations can submit cost reports to the administration in the context of regulated tariffs (SEDIGAS / AOGLP)
Baker McKenzie (Madrid)
Espagne 5 contributions 3767 visites
The Spanish National Court (Audiencia Nacional, "AN") issued two judgments on 10 and 14 March 2014 annulling the Decision of the Spanish National Competition Commission (Comisión Nacional de la Competencia, "CNC") dated 30 July 2012 imposing fines on two trade associations operating in the gas (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority affirms decision imposing a fine on the business forms cartel (Contiforme)
Abreu Advogados (Lisbon)
Portugal 2 contributions 438 visites
Following the Portuguese Competition Authority (PCA) decision dated 19 December 2012 imposing a total EUR 1,797,978.51 fine on four companies of the graphic industry - Contiforme, Soluções Gráficas Integradas, S.A.; Copidata, S.A., (Copidata); Formato, Formulários Múltiplos Comerciais, S.A., and (...)

The Russian Competition Authority considers that tenderers concluded an oral anticompetitive agreement in the market of software maintenance (Sintez)
Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (Moscow)
France 292 contributions 36370 visites
FAS Russia confirmed that violators used the “ram attack” scheme* On 6th March 2013, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that “Sintez” Ltd., “IT-DISTRIBUTSIA” Ltd. and “Sistema” Ltd. violated Clause 2 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”. The companies (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Council establishes a restrictive agreement as regards limitation of beer production and finds an infringement of Article 5 of the Law on Competition and Article 101 TFEU (Guild of Breweries)
Lithuanian Competition Authority (Vilnius)
Lituanie 73 contributions 10625 visites
Competition Council: the agreement among brewers was not based on concerns about the public health only* On 4 March, the Competition Council (the Council) announced that the Lithuanian Guild of Breweries, AB Gubernija, UAB Kalnapilio – Tauro grupė, UAB Restoranas Apynys, TŪB Rinkuškiai, UAB (...)

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