Spain: The Spanish Competition Authority examines several mergers in the funeral services market and narrowly defines geographical markets (Funespaña / Alianza Canaria)

The Spanish Competition Authority [“CNMC”] has fined the funeral services company Funespaña, a subsidiary of Mapfre, one of the main insurance group in Spain, for acquiring a local competitor in the Canary Islands (Funeraria Alianza Canaria) without prior notification (CNMC, Decision of 18 May 2021, case SNC/DC/014/21 FUNESPAÑA/ALIANZA CANARIA). Failure to comply with the notification requirement constitutes a serious infringement under Article 62(3)(b) of the Spanish Competition Act [“LDC”]. Under Article 8 LDC, notification is compulsory if a transaction meets either the turnover threshold or the market threshold established therein. According to one of the market share thresholds, even when total turnover in Spain of the