August 2013

Anticompetitive practices

 The Belgian Competition Council fines cement producers, their trade association and a center for research for the cement industry for collusion (Cimenteries CBR, Holcim, Compagnie des ciments belges)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220543 visits
Belgium: Fines for Collusion between Cement Producers* On 30 August 2013, the Competition Council (the Council) decided that all three large Belgian cement producers, their trade association and the National Center for technical and scientific research for the cement industry (involved in (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority requires payment of procurement fines for an illegal direct award as regards construction of appartments (Haninge Bostäder)
Swedish Competition Authority (Stockholm)
Sweden 70 contributions 10330 visits
Haninge Bostäder required to pay SEK 10 million in procurement fines* The Swedish Competition Authority demands that the municipal housing company in Haninge, Haninge Bostäder AB, pays procurement fines of SEK 10 million due to them having performed an illegal direct award. Haninge (...)

The Polish Competition Authority fines the leader of the distribution network for RPM arrangements and market sharing (Bona-Polska)
WKB Wierciński Kwieciński Baehr (Warsaw)
Pologne 19 contributions 6774 visites
In its decision of 28 August 2013 the Polish competition authority (Prezes Urzędu Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów, hereinafter referred to as the “OCCP President” or the “PCA”) has fined Bona-Polska with the amount of PLN 81,287.88 (approximately €20,322.00) for imposing fixed and minimum (...)

The Brazilian Competition Authority fines air cargo carriers for price fixing, highlighting the importance of leniency program in the fight against cartels (Absa Aerolineas Brasileiras)
OECD - Competition Division (Paris)
France 11 contributions 10822 visits
Introduction CADE’s Tribunal condemned airlines ABSA Aerolineas Brasileiras S.A., Varig Logistica SA, American Airlines Inc., and Alitalia Linee Aeree Italiane S.P.A., plus seven individuals, for cartel formation in the international air cargo sector. The fines sum approximately 300 million (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority files an application for competition damages against allegedly collusive health care undertakings (Aleris / Capio / Hjärtkärlgruppen)
Swedish Competition Authority (Stockholm)
Sweden 70 contributions 10330 visits
Fines demanded for collusion in care and treatment procurement* The Competition Authority has petitioned that three companies within the care and treatment business are to be sentenced to pay a total of almost SEK 30 million in fines as they have colluded during a public procurement. In (...)

The Romanian Competition Council concludes its sector investigation on the market for construction of roads and highways
Mircea & Partners (Bucharest)
Romania 32 contributions 16830 visits
A sector inquiry has been conducted and finalized by the Romanian Competition Council and its results are now subject to public discussion. The Romanian Competition Council advises against the conclusion of contract addenda or supplemental agreements in relation to public awards. The (...)

The Belgian Competition Council dismisses the College of Prosecutors’ claim that BSE laboratories had shared markets and sensitive information on price on the basis of the ’Act of State Defence’ doctrine (BSE tests)
Lexing (Liège)
Belgium 21 contributions 16151 visits
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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton (Brussels)
Belgique 3 contributions 1008 visites
I. The Parties The BSE laboratories test cattle for Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as the mad cow disease. The cattle slaughterhouses provide BSE laboratories with samples of their cattle to enable the laboratories to run tests. The Federation of Belgian Meat (FEBEV) is (...)

The UK Competition Authority issues a short form opinion clarifying the application of competition law to recommendations by two rural associations to their members concerning the prices to be charged for access to land (Broadband Wayleave Rates)
Herbert Smith Freehills (London)
United Kingdom 45 contributions 9651 visits
Introduction The Office of Fair Trading (’OFT’) in a Short Form Opinion dated 23 August 2012 has indicated that a proposed price recommendation to be made by two rural associations, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) (collectively the Parties) (...)

The US District Court of Pennsylvania announces that the largest producer of fresh shell eggs has agreed to pay $28 million to settle direct purchaser claims (Cal-Maine)
McDermott Will & Emery (New York)
United States 6 contributions 1124 visits
On July 23, 2013, Cal-Maine Foods Inc., the largest producer of fresh shell eggs in the U.S., announced that it had agreed to pay $28 million to settlement the direct purchaser claims brought by plaintiffs in In re Processed Egg Products Antitrust Litigation, 08-cv-2002 (E.D. Pa.). The direct (...)

A New Zealand High Court fines a manufacturer of setup paperboard boxes and its former senior executive for being involved in price fixing (Visy)
New Zealand Commerce Commission (Wellington)
New Zealand 180 contributions 25378 visits
Press releases published on New Zealand Commerce Commission Court endorses penalty in trans-Tasman cartel case* Visy Board Pty Ltd (Visy) has been ordered to pay a penalty of $3.6 million in the High Court in Auckland today, and its former senior executive John Carroll $25,000, for (...)

The Polish Competition Authority mulls over RPM agreements with elements of hub-and-spoke arrangements in the market for pay-TV services (Sports Broadcasting)
WKB Wierciński Kwieciński Baehr (Warsaw)
Pologne 6 contributions 3531 visites
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Competition and Markets Authority (London)
United Kingdom 7 contributions 2488 visits
In the decision of 21 August 2013 in Sports Broadcasting, the Polish competition authority (Urząd Ochrony Konkurencji i Konsumentów, the UOKiK), had the uncommon opportunity of analysing resale price maintenance (RPM) agreements with elements of hub-and-spoke arrangements. This is the fifth (...)

The US FTC submits brief amicus curiae in a pay-for-delay case in which it supports the absence of a cash payment is not determinative in the pharmaceutical sector (In Re Effexor XR)
McDermott Will & Emery (Dusseldorf)
Allemagne 12 contributions 2028 visites
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) battle against “reverse-payment” settlements continues. In an amicus brief recently submitted in the case of In re Effexor XR Antitrust Litigation, the FTC advanced a broad interpretation of the Supreme Court’s decision in FTC v. Actavis that looks beyond (...)

The Italian Competition Authority publishes the results of an inquiry into the modern trade sector (Indagine conoscitiva sul settore della GDO)
Legance - Studio Legale (Rome)
Italy 21 contributions 31239 visits
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The Apartment Pictures (Rome)
Italie 2 contributions 340 visites
Analysis The Italian Competition Authority (“ICA”) has carried out a sector inquiry in the Italian modern trade sector. The inquiry’s focus is mainly on the competition law impact arising from the practices commonly adopted by the modern trade (e.g. unilateral amendments of the contractual (...)

The UK Competition Authority issues draft commitments in an investigation regarding the hotel online booking sector (IHG / Expedia / Booking.com)
Accenture (Dublin)
United Kingdom 2 contributions 1025 visits
Hotel Online Booking: The OFT announces its intention to accept binding commitments* On 9 August 2013, the OFT issued draft commitments in the Hotel Online Booking investigation. The OFT has investigated the relevant markets for over 2 years and has provisionally found that certain hotels (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority imposes fines on two cable operator associations for infringing the rules prohibiting anti-competitive agreements (MKSZ / MKHSZ)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220543 visits
Hungary: Fines imposed on two Cable Operator Associations* On 7 August 2013, the GVH (the Hungarian Competition Authority) imposed fines totalling HUF 11 000 00 (approximately € 37 000) on two cable operator associations for infringing the rules prohibiting anti-competitive agreements. The (...)

The Slovak Competition Authority issues an order against a professional association finding its regulations to restrict competition by price fixing, output restrictions and restrictions controlling production (Slovak Chamber of Vets)
Queen Mary University of London
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 141 visites
On 7th of August 2013, the Slovak Competition Authority (“SCA”) held that respective provisions of regulations of the Slovak Chamber of Vets (“SCV”) – mainly its Professional code, Articles, License order and its Ethical order (“Regulations”) had infringed Slovak competition law (Article 4 of (...)

The Brazilian Federal District Appellate Court grants a class action damages claim against a cartel in the market for the distribution and resale of cooking gas (Liquigas / Nacional Gas Butano / Supergasbras)
J.G. Assis de Almeida - Sociedade de Advogados (Rio de Janeiro)
3 contributions 55 visites
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J.G. Assis de Almeida - Sociedade de Advogados (Rio de Janeiro)
3 contributions 55 visites
Brief summary of facts The Public Prosecutor’s Office alleges that between August 2009 and May 2010, the Defendants, all competitors on the market for the distribution and resale of kitchen gas in the Federal District, formed a cartel to artificially set the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (...)

The Chinese NDRC imposes record fines on six major infant formula makers for vertical price-fixing practices (Biostime / Mead Johnson / Dumex / Abbott Laboratories / FrieslandCampina / Fonterra)
China University of Political Science and Law (Beijing)
Chine 4 contributions 1330 visites
I. Facts and Background On August 7, 2013, China’s top enforcer in charge of curbing price monopolies, the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) announced its decision to levy fines in the total amount of CNY 668.73 million (about USD 108.34 million) on six infant formula (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority finds that cable companies have applied restrictive conditions in their model contracts for programme distribution and imposes fines (Kábelkommunikációs / Kábeltelevíziós)
Hungarian Competition Authority (Budapest)
Hungary 95 contributions 19871 visits
Restrictive practices of cable associations* The Hungarian Competition Authority (Gazdasági Versenyhivatal - GVH) established that the Hungarian Cabel Communications Association (Magyar Kábelkommunikációs Szövetség - MKSZ) and the Hungarian Cable Television and Telecommunication Association (...)

The Chinese NDRC imposes fines on several foreign infant milk formula companies for price fixing (Abbott Laboratories / Danone / Fonterra / Biostime / Mead Johnson Nutrition / FrieslandCampina)
King & Wood Mallesons (Beijing)
China 36 contributions 23517 visits
The Second RPM Investigation by NDRC within this Year* In May 2013, the National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC“) initiated the investigation against several infant formula companies for the alleged violation of Article 14 of the Antimonopoly Law (“AML“). This is the second (...)

The Chinese NDRC announces large fines for resale price maintenance on the market for baby milk formula (Baby formula cartel)
AnJie Broad Law (Beijing)
China 14 contributions 8873 visits
Chinese Antitrust Agency Imposed Record Fines on Baby Formula Brands An Analysis on the Application of the Leniency Program under the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law* Background of Record-Breaking Fine Late June of this year, it was reported that the National Development and Reform Commission (...)

The Brazilian Superior Court of Justice renders an interim decision regarding a hospital association’s damages claim against a medical cartel (AHMG Associação dos Hospitais de Minas Gerais / Medicinal Gases Cartel)
Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto (Sao Paulo)
Brazil 6 contributions 149 visits
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Cescon, Barrieu, Flesch & Barreto (Sao Paulo)
Brazil 6 contributions 149 visits
Brief summary of facts Damage claim filed by a hospital based on the Brazilian Competition Authority’s (CADE) condemnatory decision of the so-called "medicinal gases cartel". CADE’s administrative procedure was subsequently declared null and void by the Judiciary due to the illegality of the (...)

The Competition Commission of India fines eleven suppliers of rubber soles for engaging in bid rigging by fixing tender prices, limiting supplies and market sharing (Puja Enterprises)
Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas (New Delhi)
Inde 66 contributions 20862 visites
SUMMARY The Competition Commission of India found that eleven suppliers of rubber soles had engaged in bid rigging, through price-fixing, limiting supplies and market sharing, in a tender floated by the Director General (Supplies & Disposals), in breach of Section 3 of the Competition (...)

The US District Court for the Northern District of California rejects the defendants’ motion to dismiss challenging antitrust claims arising out of an exclusive license deal (Patrick Dang / San Francisco Forty Niners)
Dechert (San Francisco)
United States 26 contributions 9124 visits
Single-Brand Market Claims Are Not Dead* Modern antitrust law’s focus on inter-brand competition has made it much more difficult to plead and prove single-brand market claims. The law’s concern with inter-brand competition is so strong that some observers have all but written off such claims (...)

The Chinese Higher Court of Shanghai orders a manufacturer to pay 530,000 Yuan for setting an artificial price floor (Rainbow / Johnson & Johnson)
King & Spalding (Washington)
États-Unis 1 contribution 190 visites
Manufacturer Loses Landmark Chinese Antitrust Lawsuit* In the first vertical monopoly ruling in favor of a plaintiff in an antitrust case in China, a manufacturer has been ordered to pay 530,000 Yuan (roughly ($86,000) for setting an artificial price floor. In the case, the manufacturer was (...)

The Chinese High People’s Court of Shanghai upholds a follow-on damages appeal and awards damages to compensate a claimant/appellant for the economic losses it suffered by the anticompetitive practices of a medical devices company (Rainbow / Johnson & Johnson)
Zhong Lun Law Firm (Beijing)
France 2 contributions 32 visites
Brief summary of facts As a distributor of J&J’s surgical sutures, staplers and other medical devices, Ruibang had been a business partner of J&J for 15 years. In January 2008, J&J and Ruibang signed a Distribution Agreement which stipulated that Ruibang shall not sell products (...)

The Chinese Higher Court of Shanghai awards damages to be paid by a major US-headquartered healthcare supplier for vertical restrictive practices (Rainbow / Johnson & Johnson)
AnJie Broad Law (Beijing)
China 44 contributions 12614 visits
This article has been nominated for the 2014 Antitrust Writing Awards. Click here to learn more about the Antitrust Writing Awards. Chinese Court’s Roadmap on Vertical Monopoly Analysis: Some Comments on the Final Judgment on Rainbow vs. Johnson & Johnson Case* On August 1 2013, (...)

The Chinese Shanghai Higher Court decides on the first private antitrust action involving vertical agreements (Rainbow / Johnson & Johnson)
AnJie Broad Law (Beijing)
China 44 contributions 12614 visits
On August 1 2013, Shanghai People’s High Court (the Court) handed down judgment on the first private antitrust action involving vertical agreements under the minimum resale price maintenance (RPM) clause of China’s Anti-monopoly Law (AML). The Court rescinded the judgment of the first instance (...)

The Chinese Higher Court of Shanghai renders final judgment in first antitrust private action (Rainbow / Johnson & Johnson)
King & Wood Mallesons (Beijing)
China 36 contributions 23517 visits
Chinese Court Rendered Final Judgment on Rainbow v. Johnson & Johnson – the First Antitrust Private Action of Vertical Monopolistic Agreement* On 1 August 2013, the very same day of the fifth anniversary of China’s Anti-Monopoly Law (“AML”), Shanghai Higher People’s Court (“Shanghai (...)

The Chinese Higher Court of Shanghai and one of China’s antitrust regulators issue decisions that resale price maintenance violated China’s Anti-Monopoly Law (Rainbow / Johnson & Johnson)
Jones Day (Shanghai)
China 51 contributions 24148 visits
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Gibson Dunn (Hong Kong)
Hong Kong 26 contributions 12257 visits
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Jones Day (Beijing)
China 44 contributions 21124 visits
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This article has been nominated for the 2014 Antitrust Writing Awards. Click here to learn more about the Antitrust Writing Awards. Within the same week, the Shanghai Higher Court and one of China’s antitrust antitrust regulators have issued decisions that resale price maintenance ("RPM") (...)

The Chinese Government remains unclear about the enforcement of the Anti-monopoly Law’s price maintenance provision (Rainbow / Johnson & Johnson)
King & Wood Mallesons (Beijing)
China 19 contributions 4768 visits
Since the Anti-monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China ("AML") came into effect, there has been much debate about the circumstances in which minimum resale price maintenance ("RPM") will constitute a vertical monopolistic agreement prohibited by Article 14 of the AML. In the debate, (...)

Unilateral Practices

 The Tokyo High Court recognizes that providing advice or guidance to franchisees to sell products at “recommended price” is indeed an abuse of a superior bargaining position (SEJ)
Norton Rose Fulbright (Brussels)
Belgique 20 contributions 5692 visites
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Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (Tokyo)
Japon 4 contributions 818 visites
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Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (Tokyo)
Japon 4 contributions 818 visites
I. Introduction A private party is entitled to file an Article 25 suit against a party that has committed a certain act in violation of AMA, including but not limited to unfair trade practice by abusing of superior bargaining position, on condition that there is a final and binding (...)

The Spanish Competition Authority fines collecting society due to an abuse of dominant position concerning the management of intellectual property rights for musical videos played on jukeboxes (Asociación de Gestión de Derechos Intelectuales)
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220543 visits
Spain: The Comisión Nacional de la Competencia fines Collecting Society AGEDI concerning Management of IPR for Use of Musical Videos on Jukebox* By decision of 26 August 2013, the Comisión Nacional de la Competencia (CNC) Council fined Asociación de Gestión de Derechos Intelectuales (AGEDI) (...)

The Slovak Competition Authority finds abuse of dominance in freight rail transport market
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220543 visits
Slovakia: The Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic fines Abuse in Freight Rail Transport Market* On 22 August 2013, the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic - Abuse of Dominant Position and Vertical Agreements Division - (the Office) issued a decision finding an abuse of (...)

The EU Commission tests commitments proposed by German railway incumbent concerning pricing system for traction current in Germany (Deutsche Bahn)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 191 contributions 67130 visits
On 15 August 2013, the European Commission published a series of commitments proposed by the German railway incumbent Deutsche Bahn (“DB”) to resolve an investigation into its pricing system in Germany for the electricity used to power locomotives (known as “traction current”). In a (...)

The Bulgarian Competition Authority holds that the national health insurance fund is not an undertaking for competition law enforcement (NZOK II)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 226320 visits
On 17 July 2013 the Bulgarian Competition Authority (CPC) rejected the abuse of dominance complaints submitted by the pharmaceuticals traders against the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK). In its two no-infringement decisions the CPC held that NZOK should not be viewed as undertaking in (...)

The Romanian Competition Authority opens a public consultation in respect of the commitments undertaken by telecom operators regarding the mobile termination rates (Orange / Vodafone / Cosmote and Digi Mobil)
European University Institute (Florence)
Italie 11 contributions 5288 visites
The Romanian Competition Council starts a market test in respect of commitments regarding the mobile termination rates* The Romanian Competition Council (RCC) launched on 13 August 2013, the market test of the commitments proposed by the Romanian mobile network operators - Orange, Vodafone, (...)

The Dutch District Court finds abuse of dominance by credit card network operator (EMS / Equens)
Allen & Overy (Amsterdam)
Netherlands 8 contributions 1747 visits
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Maverick Advocaten (Amsterdam)
Netherlands 8 contributions 1747 visits
I. The Parties European Merchant Services BV and Equens SE II. The Facts European Merchant Services BV (‘EMS’) is a so-called “acquirer”. That means that EMS processes credit card payment data and enters into contracts with merchants. Merchants are companies – such as retailers – that accept (...)

A Dutch Court issues a preliminary judgment in a dispute between a multinational food and beverage producer and a candy bars producer concerning discount practices with service stations (Mars / Nestlé)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 191 contributions 67130 visits
On 7 August 2013, a Dutch court issued a preliminary judgment in a dispute between Nestle, the multinational food and beverage producer, and Mars, the producer of candy bars. The dispute concerns the discount practices of Mars in its relationship with service stations. Under these (...)

The Indian Competition Authority excludes "policy formulation" from the scope of Indian competition law (Vineet Kumar)
Trilegal (Mumbai)
Inde 5 contributions 907 visites
The Competition Commission of India (“CCI”), on 6 August 2013 passed an order clarifying the scope of the applicability of the Competition Act, 2002 (“Act”), excluding enterprises engaged in “policy formulation”. The CCI was of the opinion that as “policy formulation” is not a commercial or (...)

The Taiwan FTC fines petrochemical companies for refusal to sell ingredients to downstream distributors (Formosa Plastics, Formosa Chemical & Fiber)
Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (Taipei)
Taïwan 6 contributions 1363 visites
Introduction On August 2, 2013, the Taiwan Fair Trade Commission (TFTC) officially imposed fines of NT$2 million (US$68,000) and NT$3 million (US$100,000) on two leading petrochemical manufacturers and suppliers in Taiwan: the Formosa Plastics Corporation (FPC) and the Formosa Chemical & (...)

The Italian Regional Administrative Court of First Instance annuls the Competition Authority’s decision concerning the abuse of the dominant position of a company aimed to exclude competitor’s entry into mass retail markets (Coop Estense)
Orsingher Ortu Avvocati (Milano)
Italy 13 contributions 3433 visits
1. Premise – This work is the only contribution of a project (hereinafter, the “Project”) aimed to offer a general, quarterly overview of all the decisions of Italian administrative courts, which involve the Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, (...)

Mergers

 The COMESA Court of Justice rules that a merger filing notification to COMESA’s Competition Commission will remove the need for filings to national authorities in the Member State (Polytol)
Norton Rose Fulbright (Brussels)
Belgium 32 contributions 14209 visits
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UK Competition & Markets Authority - CMA (London)
Royaume-Uni 5 contributions 1734 visites
In much the same way that, within the European Union, a merger filing (notification) to the European Commission removes the need for filings to national competition authorities in the EU Member States, so too the COMESA. Court of Justice has ruled that a merger filing (notification) to (...)

The UK Competition Authority requires an airline to sell down its minority shareholding in its rival company (Ryanair / Aer Lingus)
Eversheds Sutherland (Brussels)
Belgique 7 contributions 6939 visites
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Oracle (Dublin)
Irlande 2 contributions 821 visites
1. Introduction This case note provides a summary of the UK competition authorities’ investigation into Ryanair’s 29.82% minority shareholding in its rival Aer Lingus. The long running battle between the two airlines has resulted in more than 20 competition authority and court decisions (...)

The UK Competition Authority requires an airline to sell most of its minority shareholding in a rival company (Ryanair / Aer Lingus)
DLA Piper (London)
Royaume-Uni 28 contributions 11524 visites
Last week the UK Competition Commission (CC) required airline Ryanair to reduce its 29.8% shareholding in rival Aer Lingus to 5 per cent. The CC ruled that Ryanair’s gradual acquisition of its existing minority shareholding (i) created a relevant merger situation and (ii) had led or may be (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM conditionally approves the acquisition of a semiconductor company for display and digital home platforms by a semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions (MediaTek / MStar)
University of Melbourne
Australia 103 contributions 29834 visits
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China Competition Bulletin (Beijing)
China 101 contributions 26785 visits
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Institute of American Studies (Beijing)
China 52 contributions 15522 visits
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On 27 August 2013, MOFCOM announced that it had conditionally approved the acquisition of MStar Semiconductor Inc. (MStar) by MediaTek Inc. (MediaTek). MediaTek is a fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, and MStar is a semiconductor (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM announces its conditional clearance of a merger on the market for LCD TV controller chip (MediaTek / MStar)
King & Wood Mallesons (Beijing)
China 36 contributions 23517 visits
Another “Hold-Separate” Decision of MOFCOM—MediaTek’s Acquisition of MStar is Cleared with Conditions* On August 27, 2013, MOFCOM announced its conditional clearance on MediaTek Inc’s (“MediaTek”) 4 billion USD acquisition of MStar Semiconductor Inc (“MStar“) (the “Transaction“). This is the (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority conditionally clears a telecoms merger (Kento Unitel Sonaecom/ZON Optimus)
Sérvulo (Lisbon)
Portugal 18 contributions 26044 visites
On the August 26, 2013, the Portuguese Competition Authority (“PCA”) issued a Decision of Non-opposition, with remedies, regarding a concentration notified in February 1, 2013 (under every notification criteria under article 37 (1) of the Portuguese Competition Law – Lei n.º 19/2012, of May (...)

The Competition Tribunal of South Africa approves a merger in the petrochemical and mining sector within four hours of receiving the Competition Commission’s recommendation (Stefanutti Stocks / Energotec)
Primerio (Johannesburg)
Afrique du Sud 22 contributions 5781 visites
South African Competition Tribunal approves merger in record time of 4 hours* The South African Competition Tribunal received notice of, heard and approved the acquisition by construction firm, Stefanutti Stocks (Pty) Ltd, of Energotec, which is a division of First Strut (Pty) Ltd, and (...)

The US FTC agrees to require only minor behavioral remedies and no structural remedies regarding a hospital merger (Phoebe Putney Health System)
Jones Day (Washington)
United States 11 contributions 6526 visits
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Sheppard Mullin (Washington)
États-Unis 14 contributions 5136 visites
This article has been nominated for the 2014 Antitrust Writing Awards. Click here to learn more about the Antitrust Writing Awards. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has settled its long running dispute with the Phoebe Putney Health System, Palmyra Park Hospital, and the Hospital Authority (...)

The Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf overrules decision of the German Competition Authority to free merger under remedies between two cable operators (Liberty Global / KabelBW)
Berlin School of Economics and Law (Berlin)
Allemagne 2 contributions 556 visites
Recently, the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf ("Court") overruled the decision of the Bundeskartellamt, the German competition authority, to free the merger between two cable operators, Liberty Global and KabelBW. The court decision is the outcome of an appeal procedure initiated by two (...)

The U.S. DoJ challenges an acquisition in the air transport sector (US Airways / American Airlines)
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Washington)
États-Unis 3 contributions 1095 visites
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Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (San Francisco)
États-Unis 2 contributions 2511 visites
On August 13, 2013 the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), six states, and the District of Columbia filed suit against US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways) and AMR Corporation (American) alleging that the defendants’ proposed merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act. This marks the first time (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM conditionally approves the EUR 4 billion acquisition of a medical technology company (Baxter / Gambro)
King & Wood Mallesons (Beijing)
China 36 contributions 23517 visits
MOFCOM Conditionally Cleared Baxter’s $4 Billion Acquisition of Gambro* On August 13, 2013, China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced on its website that it has conditionally approved the $4 billion acquisition of Swedish medical technology company Gambro AB by Baxter International. (...)

The Chinese MOFCOM grants a clearance on the proposed acquisition of a Swedish equipment manufacturer by an American healthcare company (Baxter / Gambro)
AnJie Broad Law (Beijing)
China 14 contributions 8873 visits
MOFCOM conditionally approves Baxter’s acquisition of Gambro* On 8 August 2013, China’s Ministry of Commerce ("MOFCOM") granted a clearance on the proposed acquisition of the Swedish dialysis equipment manufacturer Gambro AB ("Gambro") by its US rival healthcare company Baxter ("Baxter") in (...)

The EU Commission conditionally clears a merger between two US commercial airlines while the US DOJ sues to block the transaction (US Airways / American Airlines)
Van Bael & Bellis (Brussels)
Belgium 227 contributions 72716 visits
On 5 August 2013, the European Commission conditionally approved the proposed merger between US Airways Group and AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines. Both US Airways and American Airlines are major US commercial airlines. The Commission examined the competitive (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority clears unconditionally an acquisition on the electricity market (E. ON / Villamos Művek)
Hungarian Competition Authority (Budapest)
Hungary 95 contributions 19871 visits
The GVH authorised the MVM-E.ON transaction* The Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH - the Hungarian Competition Authority) cleared the acquisition of E.ON Földgáz Trade Zrt. and E.ON Földgáz Storage Zrt. by Magyar Villamos Művek Zrt. The most important field of activity of Magyar Villamos Művek (...)

The New York Attorney General settles remedies regarding the merger between two leading online food ordering services in Manhattan (Seamless / GrubHub)
Ashurst (Milan)
Italy 103 contributions 30274 visits
NY Attorney General reaches settlement with two leading online food ordering services in Manhattan* On 5 August 2013 NY Attorney General stated that he reached a settlement with Seamless North America, LLC and GrubHub, two leading online food ordering services in Manhattan, in order to (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority clears a merger by a acquisition of sole control without any remedies (Komplett / Webhallen Sverige)
Klarna (Stockholm)
Suède 9 contributions 1549 visites
On 26 April 2013, the Swedish Competition Authority (“the SCA”) received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Chapter 4 §6 of the Swedish Competition Act (Swe. Konkurrenslagen SFS 2008:579), by which the undertaking Komplett AS (“Komplett”) acquired sole control of the (...)

The COMESA Competition Commission sheds light on the substantive analysis employed in two previously notified merger cases (Cooper Tire & Rubber / Apollo Tyres)
Primerio (Washington)
United States 47 contributions 10771 visits
COMESA publishes explanation of first two merger approvals & receives 4th deal filing* The COMESA Competition Commission (“CCC”) has finally shed some light on the substantive merger analysis it undertook in its first two notified (and now cleared) transactions. The full text of the (...)

State Aid

 The EU Commission clarifies the relation between Altmark criteria and public procurement rules (SNCM)
Maastricht University (Maastricht)
Belgium 357 contributions 67035 visits
* Article published on StateAidHub: http://stateaidhub.eu, republished in e-Competitions with the courtesy of the author. The original title of this article appears below the e-Competitions title. Authors are welcome to write an alternative article on this case/text, provided they have no (...)

Procedures

 The Moldovan Competition Authority for the first time applies procedural penalties for obstruction of investigation under the new competition law (Voiaj International)
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 226320 visits
On 30 August 2013 the Moldovan Competition Authority (CC) has adopted a decision sanctioning travel agency SRL Voiaj International & Co for the refusal to provide CC officials access to the business premises during a ‘dawn raid’ and imposed a periodical penalty until the access is (...)

The Romanian Competition Authority releases the results of its market inquiry on road construction services which finds that domestic providers scored significantly higher profits than foreign providers
University of Macau - Faculty of Law
China 284 contributions 226320 visits
On 27 August 2013 the Romanian Competition Authority (CC) has published the results of its market inquiry concerning road construction, maintenance and affiliated services. This brief summarizes the major conclusions and recommendations included in the CC’s report. Based on the highway (...)

The Belgian Competition Authority dismisses a claim from the College of Prosecutors concerning geographical allocation agreements between laboratories active in BSE testing, slaughterhouses and their professional organization (BSE laboratories)
Covington & Burling (Brussels)
Belgique 14 contributions 5673 visites
I. The Facts In the 1990s Great Britain was affected by the outbreak of BSE (“bovine spongiform encephalopatie"), causing the European Union to take immediate action. Member States were obliged to comply with the imposed obligations by the European Union and to carry out tests urgently. The (...)

The Chinese NDRC increases antitrust investigations into foreign companies and starts making case decisions public
Sheppard Mullin (Beijing)
China 5 contributions 781 visits
Antitrust Investigations in China: Putting Things in Perspective* The current press is buzzing with news about the recent increase in antitrust investigations involving foreign companies with operations in China, and reports of foreign companies being told to expect higher fines if they “put (...)

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reconfirms class certification post-Comcast (Butler / Sears Roebuck)
Cohen Milstein (New York)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
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Burns Charest (Washington)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
Purchasers of Kenmore washing machines brought class actions alleging products defects involving mold and defective control units. The district court certified the defective control unit class but refused to certify the mold class. On appeal, the Seventh Circuit reversed the refusal to (...)

The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit vacates class certification order on ascertainability grounds in consumer false advertising case (Carerra / Bayer)
Cohen Milstein (New York)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
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Burns Charest (Washington)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
Purchasers of a diet supplement brought a class action asserting that Bayer falsely claimed that the supplement enhanced metabolism by including a green tea extract. The district court certified a class of purchasers in Florida. The Third Circuit vacated the class certification order and (...)

The Italian Competition Authority publishes results of sector inquiry into retail distribution
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220543 visits
Italy: The Italian Competition Authority publishes Results of Sector Inquiry into Retail Distribution* The Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has published the results if its sector inquiry into Italian retail distribution, concluded in July 2013, which was aimed at understanding the (...)

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit unanimously overturns the district court’s order granting certification of a class of direct purchasers against four freight railroad companies (In re: Rail Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation)
Cohen Milstein (New York)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
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Burns Charest (Washington)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
Railroad shippers brought a class action, asserting that four freight railroad companies that together comprised nearly 90% of the market for rail freight had participated in a conspiracy to impose rate-based fuel surcharges. The district court certified a class based on two regression (...)

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York certifies class for liability purposes only in a lawsuit brought against retail chain pharmacy (Jacob / Duane Reade)
Cohen Milstein (New York)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
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Burns Charest (Washington)
United States 57 contributions 7641 visits
Pharmacy store managers brought suit against a retail chain pharmacy, asserting that the pharmacy failed to compensate them for overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The district court concluded that certification of the class for all purposes was inappropriate, under (...)

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York certifies a class for liability purposes only (Jacob / Duane Reade)
Cohen Milstein (New York)
États-Unis 57 contributions 7641 visites
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Burns Charest (Washington)
États-Unis 57 contributions 7641 visites
Pharmacy store managers brought suit against a retail chain pharmacy, asserting that the pharmacy failed to compensate them for overtime in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The district court concluded that certification of the class for all purposes was inappropriate under (...)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit holds that “informational injury” alone is sufficient to confer standing (Charvat v. Mutual First Federal Credit Union)
3 contributions 1191 visites
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently held that a consumer may establish an injury in fact to meet constitutional standing requirements by alleging “an informational injury” within the context of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (“EFTA”). The Eighth Circuit (...)

The Romanian Competition Authority issues final report of inquiry into roads and highways construction sector
European Commission - DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 714 contributions 220543 visits
Romania: Final Report of Inquiry into Roads and Highways Construction Sector* The report on the sector inquiry finalised in August 2013 by the Romanian Competition Council (RCC) expresses competition concerns on the identified upstream markets of production and trade of mineral aggregates, (...)

Regulatory

 The US FTC releases draft strategic plan for 2014-2018
Jones Day (Washington)
États-Unis 17 contributions 14291 visites
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Jones Day (Washington)
United States 20 contributions 6520 visits
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Hogan Lovells (Washington)
États-Unis 8 contributions 1385 visites
The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") has released a draft Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014-2018 (the "2014 Plan"). Despite the ambitious title, the 2014 Plan actually focuses on a small number of procedural issues. It provides no indication of the FTC’s likely substantive agenda or (...)

The Kazakh Antimonopoly Agency issues a binding instruction for the Communications and Informatisation Committee to amend discriminatory terms and conditions of licenses granted to certain cellular operators (Kar / Tel)
Center for Development and Protection of Competition Policy (Astana)
Kazakhstan 9 contributions 2048 visites
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Reed Smith (Astana)
Kazakhstan 4 contributions 927 visites
The Communications and informatisation Committee of the Transport and Communications Ministry of the Republic of Kazakhstan (‘Committee’) implements a state function of licensing for providing cellular communication. Paragraph 1 of Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On (...)