June 2007

General antitrust

 The OECD holds a roundtable on public procurement
OECD - Competition Division (Paris)
France 290 contributions 777154 visits
Key documents: Executive Summary with key findings, Detailled Summary of the discussion, Background note Executive summary, by the Secretariat Considering the discussion at the roundtable, the member country submissions, and the background paper of the Secretariat, a number of key points (...)

Anticompetitive practices

 The French Commercial Supreme Court rules that exchange of information between competitors in an oligopolistic market is not per se contrary to competition law (Bouygues Telecom / Orange / SFR)
French Competition Authority (Paris)
France 9 contributions 43825 visits
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DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgique 4 contributions 14907 visites
Background On 29 June the French Commercial Supreme Court (“the Supreme Court”) ruled on a noteworthy case relating to anticompetitive agreements and exchange of information in the mobile telephony market. The case was decided on the basis of Article L. 420-1 of the French Commercial Code and (...)

The French Commercial Supreme Court rules that exchange of information is not prohibited per se and recalls that imposing fine in an oligopolistic market requires to demonstrate a concrete anticompetitive object or effect (Bouygues Telecom / Orange / SFR)
White & Case (Paris)
France 2 contributions 11420 visites
The “mobile telephony case” in which the French Competition Council, upheld by the Paris Court of Appeal, imposed on three competitors a record EUR 534 million fine, has not come to an end yet since the Cour de cassation (French supreme court for judicial matters) partially repealed the appeal (...)

The Polish Competition Authority condemns resale price maintenance on the ceramic roofing-tile market (Röben Ceramika Budowlana)
French National Research Agency - ANR (Paris)
France 37 contributions 154059 visits
Röben Ceramika Budowlana Sp. z o.o. (hereafter: Röben) is a Polish limited liability company which is controlled by Röben Betailigungsgesellschaft mbH (Germany) who owns 100 per cent of its shares. Röben is specialized in manufacturing, inter alia, ceramic roofing-tiles, which are sold via (...)

The French Commercial Supreme Court partly annuls the Paris Court of Appeal’s judgment on illicit exchange of sensitive information in the mobile telephony cartel and strengthens the standard of proof (Bouygues Telecom / SFR / Orange)
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel (Paris)
France 17 contributions 92921 visits
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Eversheds Sutherland (Paris)
France 14 contributions 81300 visits
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Johnson & Johnson (Issy-les-Moulineaux)
France 13 contributions 79455 visits
Proceedings In its decision of November 25, 2005, the French Competition Council imposed record fines - up to a global amount of € 534 million - on the three main mobile phone operators in France (namely Bouygues Telecom, SFR and Orange France) for cartel practices infringing of Articles L. (...)

The US Supreme Court reverses the 96 year old-doctrine governing resale price maintenance agreements as per se illegal replacing it with the rule of reason standard (Leegin Creative)
Hahn Loeser & Parks (Columbus)
États-Unis 1 contribution 572 visites
Introduction In the summer of 2007, the United States Supreme Court overruled a ninety-six year old precedent when it overruled the historical decision of Dr. Miles in Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc.. Relying on economists’ views, the majority took a drastic measure and (...)

The US Supreme Court overrules prohibition against vertical agreements between manufacturers and their dealers setting minimum resale prices as a per se violation (Leegin Creative)
Kozyak Tropin and Throckmorton Law Firm
États-Unis 1 contribution 388 visites
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Holland & Knight (Miami)
1 contribution 388 visites
Vertical Price Agreements in the Wake of Leegin v. PSKS: Where Do We Stand Now?* I. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS For nearly a century, agreements between retailers and suppliers stipulating a minimum retail price were considered per se violations of the Sherman Act. Resale price maintenance (“RPM”) (...)

The US Supreme Court sets aside Dr. Miles rule on resale price maintenance agreements as per se illegal replacing it with the rule of reason standard (Leegin Creative)
Cause of Action Institute (Arlington)
États-Unis 2 contributions 7792 visites
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Porter Wright Morris & Arthur (Washington)
États-Unis 1 contribution 423 visites
Dr. Miles: Will the Supreme Court Find a Cure?* On December 7, 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc.,which presents the Court with an opportunity to address the per se minimum resale price rule established almost a century ago in Dr. (...)

The US Supreme Court overrules the nearly 100-year-old per se prohibition of vertical minimum price restraints finding that they are to be judged by the rule of reason (Leegin Creative)
European University Institute (Florence)
Italie 2 contributions 11029 visites
I. Background After the per se prohibition of non-price vertical restraints and of maximum resale price maintenance have long been abolished by overruling Supreme Court decisions [Continental T.V. v. GTE Sylvania Inc., 433 U.S. 36 (1977) and State Oil v. Kahn, 522 U.S. 3 (1997)], Leegin is the (...)

The US Supreme Court overturns its long-standing prohibition against vertical agreements between manufacturers and their dealers setting minimum resale prices (Leegin Creative)
White & Case (Washington)
États-Unis 3 contributions 10938 visites
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White & Case (Washington)
United States 3 contributions 11117 visits
This article is part of a set of 5 articles released in Concurrences N°3-2008: Resale price regulation: Leegin and much more * The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of summer associates Christel Green and Aaron McAllister. I. Introduction 1. In 2007, the Supreme Court of the (...)

The Paris Court of appeal rejects rule of reason reasoning and confirms ban on resale price maintenance (Guerlain)
DS Avocats (Paris)
France 286 contributions 430215 visits
On March 13, 2006, the French competition council imposed a heavy fine on several manufacturers and distributors of luxury perfumes in France, for the implementation of a network of vertical agreements aiming at imposing minimum resale prices. In the judgment under review, the Paris court of (...)

The French Competition Authority accepts commitments but fines two companies for having entered into an agreement on the sector of laundry cleaning and renting (Elis / Initial BTB)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 599 contributions 229637 visites
Press Release published on the official website of the French Competition Authority. Agreement in the sector of laundry cleaning and renting fined up to 18 million euros: The Conseil de la concurrence accepts innovative commitments from the sector’s two leaders - Elis and Initial BTB – who will (...)

The Romanian Competition Council dismisses a complaint for anticompetitive termination of a beer supply agreement (Sasha/Heineken)
University College London
Royaume-Uni 1 contribution 2829 visites
The facts The dispute can be traced back to a notice for unilateral termination of the distribution contract between Heineken Romania, the beer producer, and Sasha, a non-specialised food wholesaler, served by the former on 2 Mach 2007, taking effect on 2 May 2007. The notice eventually cut a (...)

The Japan Fair Trade Commission issues a cease and desist order and imposes surcharges on participants in bidding for civil engineering and construction projects and makes a cease and desist order against them (Defense Facilities Administration Agency)
Japan Fair Trade Commission (Tokyo)
Japan 114 contributions 18292 visits
Cease and desist order, Penalty payment order, etc. Against Corporate Bidders for Civil Engineering and Construction Projects Commissioned by the Defense Facilities Administration Agency * The Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), in accordance with the provisions of the Antimonopoly Act (...)

The Spanish Antitrust Authority fines € 4 M an olive oil manufacturer and a large retail distributors for retail price maintenance (Aceites)
Spanish Competition Authority (Madrid)
Espagne 6 contributions 26512 visites
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Compass Lexecon (Madrid)
Espagne 4 contributions 21888 visites
The Spanish Antitrust Court (Tribunal de Defensa de la Competencia, TDC) has imposed fines of 2 million euros to the SOS-Cuétara group (the largest olive oil manufacturer in Spain), and 2 million euros to be distributed among the main retailers in proportion to their shopping area. The TDC found (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority fines a professional association for recommanding minimum fees to its members (Chamber of Auditors)
Lithuanian Competition Authority (Vilnius)
Lituanie 28 contributions 101793 visites
On 21 June 2007 the Lithuanian Competition Council concluded its long-running investigation in the Chamber of Auditors case with the infringement decision establishing a fine of LTL 30,000 (approx. EUR 8,689) on the Lithuanian Chamber of Auditors (LCA) for the latter’s recommendations of (...)

The Hungarian Court of Appeal confirms the NCA’s decision having fined anticompetitive cooperation agreement in the course of a public procurement procedure (Construm-Royal Bau)
Eötvös Lorand University
Hongrie 2 contributions 5469 visites
On 16 December 2004, the Hungarian Competition Office condemned two undertakings interested in a public procurement procedure. This decision was confirmed by the Court of Appeal’s judgment on 20 June 2007. Construm and Royal Bau concluded a co-operation agreement in the course of a public (...)

A German Court finds that a cartel agreement causing a coordination of prices can affect competition substantially even if the involved undertakings have a combined market share of less than 10% (Nord-KS/Xella)
1 contribution 2480 visites
Background The following case deals with different concepts of “substantiality” and “appreciability” as part of the criterions “restriction of competition” and “effect on inter-state trade”. According to the European competition rules as well as to the German Act against Restraints of Competition (...)

The German Federal Supreme Court rules on the methods for quantifying cartel profits (Paper Wholesale-Cartel)
Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen
Germany 13 contributions 41020 visits
By its order of 19 June 2007 the Federal Supreme Court has ruled on the methods and the standard of proof for determining and quantifying cartel profits. Although this issue was dealt within the context of a fine decision, the rules established by the Court are also relevant in the field of (...)

The French Competition Authority issues an opinion on quality label farm and food industry (Comité interprofessionnel de la volaille de Bresse)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 599 contributions 229637 visites
Press Release published on the official website of the French Competition Authority. Sale of intermediate products restricted to label producers: The Conseil de la concurrence examines whether it is compatible with competition law to reserve certain intermediate products for producers of a (...)

The Polish competition authority finds pharmaceuticals companies and their distributors not guilty of price fixing and market sharing on the EPO medicines market (Johnson & Johnson, Roche)
Greenberg Traurig Grzesiak (Warsaw)
Poland 29 contributions 79060 visits
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PKN Orlen (Warsaw)
Poland 12 contributions 34290 visits
On 14 June 2007, the Polish President of the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (“OCCP") issued a decision concerning alleged price fixing and market sharing of medicines containing human recombined erythropoietin (EPO). The OCCP had decided that agreements between Johnson & (...)

The Vilnius District Administrative Court upholds the NCA’s decision in the first Art. 81 EC case in Lithuania (Paper Wholesalers)
Lithuanian Competition Authority (Vilnius)
Lituanie 28 contributions 101793 visites
On 7 June 2007 the Vilnius District Administrative Court (the “VDAC” or the “Court”) substantially upheld the 26 October 2006 Competition Council’s infringement decision in Paper Wholesalers. As reviewed previously in this newsletter, by that decision the Competition Council found five wholesalers (...)

The Paris Court of Appeal receives the first application ever from the EU Commission acting as amicus curiae on the basis of Reg. N°1/2003 in a case concerning the application of the automotive block exemption (Garage Gremeau / Daimler Chrysler)
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel (Paris)
France 17 contributions 92921 visits
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Eversheds Sutherland (Paris)
France 14 contributions 81300 visits
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Johnson & Johnson (Issy-les-Moulineaux)
France 13 contributions 79455 visits
Facts and proceedings Garage Gremeau had been entrusted by Daimler Chrysler France with the distribution of Mercedes Benz motor vehicles in the Dijon area (Burgundy) since 1982. On the basis of the new Commission Regulation (EC) n° 1400/2002, of 31 July 2002, on the application of Article (...)

Unilateral Practices

 The Lithuanian District Administrative Court in Vilnius annuls the Competition Authority’s first Art. 82 EC excessive fuel prices case on both legal reasoning and procedural grounds for, inter alia, not having informed the EC Commission (Maeikiu nafta II)
Lithuanian Competition Authority (Vilnius)
Lituanie 28 contributions 101793 visites
On 28 June 2007 the Vilnius District Administrative Court (the “VDAC” or the “Court”) overturned the 22 December 2005 Competition Council’s infringement decision n° 2S-16 in Mažeikiu nafta II (“MN”)(, the first Article 82 case in Lithuania, notable for its record fine of LTL 32 million (approx. EUR 9.27 (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes an obligation upon the electricity incumbent to offer a wholesale contract to new entrants (Direct Energie / EDF)
Compass Lexecon (Paris)
France 34 contributions 87611 visits
Background Direct Energie (hereafter ‘DE’) is a new entrant in the French retail electricity market which supplies small professional customers. It purchases energy from EDF through a bilateral wholesale contract concluded in December 2005 (hereafter ‘EDF-DE contract’). DE has seized Conseil de la (...)

A German Court decides on excessive fees for the provision of information for directory enquiry services (DaRed II)
Gleiss Lutz (Munich)
Germany 28 contributions 48170 visits
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Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy (Munich)
Germany 28 contributions 48170 visits
On 27 June 2007, the German Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf issued a decision on the question whether a telecommunication company abused its dominant position by demanding excessive fees for the provision of information for directory enquiry services. The question at stake was whether a (...)

The Swiss Competition Commission supports the legal admissibility of parallel importation of patent-protected products into Switzerland
ABELS Avocats (Geneva)
Suisse 3 contributions 12009 visites
I - Background A complete overhaul of the Swiss Patent Act enacted on June 25, 1954 is being discussed (mid-2007) by the Swiss Parliament. In this context, one of the heavily-debated topics is the scope of protection granted by a patent, in particular the question of whether a patent holder (...)

The Cypriot Competition Authority finds the national dairy organisation guilty of abusing its dominant position because of price discriminating among its customers and grants the applicant interim measures (Charalambides Dairies Public Company / Cyprus Dairy Organisations)
Amarla Retail (Athens)
Grèce 4 contributions 897 visites
An Overview On June 19, 2007 the Cypriot Commission for the Protection of Competition (hereinafter: the “Commission”) condemned the Cyprus Dairy Organisation (hereinafter: the “CDO”) of having abused its dominant position in the market of production and supply of fresh milk in the form of price (...)

The Austrian competition authority concludes general inquiry in the highly concentrated food distribution sector while highlighting indications of strong buyer power (Branchenuntersuchung Lebensmittelhandel)
European Court of Justice (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 21 contributions 28795 visits
In June 2007, the Austrian competition authority (Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde; “BWB”) published its final report on a general inquiry conducted in respect of the Austrian food wholesale and retail distribution sector with special regard to the phenomenon of buying power (“Nachfragemacht”) exerted by (...)

The US Supreme Court rules that federal and state antitrust claims related to certain IPOs are preempted by federal securities laws (Credit Suisse Securities / Billing)
Winston & Strawn (New York)
United States 4 contributions 2917 visits
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Haug Partners (New York)
United States 4 contributions 2152 visits
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Winston & Strawn (New York)
United States 5 contributions 3309 visits
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In a decision announced earlier today, the United States Supreme Court held that federal securities laws implicitly preclude the application of antitrust laws to claims filed against ten leading investment banks over alleged conduct on initial public offerings during the technology boom of the (...)

The US Supreme Court rules that federal securities laws implicitly preclude application of antitrust law to regulated securities industry related claims (Credit Suisse Securities / Billing)
Dentons (Washington)
United States 1 contribution 390 visits
Credit Suisse v. Billing: The Limited Impact on Application of Antitrust Laws in Federally Regulated Industries Following the 2008 Financial Crisis and Beyond* In Credit Suisse v. Billing, the Supreme Court of the United States considered whether antitrust laws were implicitly precluded from (...)

The US Supreme Court finds implied antitrust immunity in regulated securities industry related claims (Credit Suisse Securities / Billing)
Lytle Soulé & Curlee
États-Unis 1 contribution 247 visites
Securities Law and Antitrust Law: Two Legal Titans Clash Before the United States Supreme Court in Credit Suisse v. Billing* Because of the inherent tension between antitrust law on one hand and industry-specific regulations on the other, the United States Supreme Court has often been called (...)

The UK High Court rejects a claim of predatory behaviour on a local bus transport services market (Chester City Transport / Arriva)
King’s College (London)
Royaume-Uni 17 contributions 79055 visites
Introduction and Background to the Claim In Chester City Council and Chester City Transport Limited v. Arriva Plc, Arriva Cymru Limited and Arriva North West Limited [2007] EWHC 1373 (Ch), the High Court of Justice had to consider a claim brought by Chester City Council (‘the Council’) and (...)

The Brussels Court of Appeal confirms that a non compete clause does not constitute a restrictive agreement but may constitute an abuse of dominance (FEBIAC / WEX)
Liège University
France 39 contributions 156377 visites
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Minnen & Peysmans-De Rick (Antwerpen)
Belgique 1 contribution 2753 visites
I. Parties FEBIAC is a non-profit organisation which represents all motorcar designers, importers and suppliers in Belgium. Wallonie Expo (“WEX”) is the owner of an exhibition infrastructure. UPTR is a professional association of road transport companies. II. Facts In January 2005, FEBIAC (...)

The Austrian Competition Authority refers to the Cartel Court a case of alleged excessive pricing in the jet fuel market pursuant to both Art. 82 EC and national provisions (Austrian Airlines / OMV)
Reidlinger Schatzmann Rechtsanwälte (Vienna)
Austria 19 contributions 80517 visits
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Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Vienna)
Autriche 1 contribution 5290 visites
The case at hand concerns a complaint by Austrian Airlines of June 2006 to the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (FCA) that followed a long dispute between Austrian Airlines and OMV, the Austrian market leader in the oil refining and distribution of refinery products. According to the (...)

The Lithuanian Competition Authority fines the State-controlled airport for abusing its dominance by restricting access to the airport facilities (Vilnius Airport / RSS)
Lithuanian Competition Authority (Vilnius)
Lituanie 28 contributions 101793 visites
On 7 June 2007, in its first explicit application of the essential facilities doctrine, the Lithuanian Competition Council imposed a fine of LTL 50,000 (approx. EUR 14,481) on the State Enterprise Tarptautinis Vilniaus oro uostas (TVOU) for abuse of a dominant position by way of restricting (...)

The French Competition Authority orders interim measures aiming at ending the eviction practices of the French incumbent on the market of engineering, consultancy and checking of private telephone installations (Solutel / France Télécom)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 599 contributions 229637 visites
The Conseil de la concurrence orders France Télécom to end its eviction practices on the market of engineering, consultancy and checking of private telephone installations.* Following a referral of November 2006 by the company Solutel, the Conseil de la concurrence has handed down a decision, (...)

The Estonian Competition Authority ends proceedings against the telecommunications incumbent operator without finding abuse in the market of wholesale unbundled access to the local loop (Elisa / Elion)
EFTA Surveillance Authority (Brussels)
Belgium 8 contributions 23478 visits
Introduction On October 17th, 2005 the Estonian subsidiary of a Finnish telecom operator Elisa filed a complaint with the Estonian Communications Board claiming that the Estonian telecom incumbent Elion Ettevõtted AS (Elion) had committed an abuse of its dominant position. According to the (...)

The Swedish Market Court rejects alleged predatory pricing and bundling practices in the free press sector (Metro / Stockholm City)
General Court of the European Union (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 8 contributions 32505 visits
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SNP Schlawien (Munich)
Allemagne 6 contributions 28421 visites
On the 5th of June 2007, the Swedish Market Court ruled on Tidnings Aktiebolaget Metro v. Stockholm City i Sverige AB - a case involving two major newspaper companies. The case is interesting because it is the second time the Market Court has “avoided” answering issues of key interest to (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority holds as not abusive a refusal to supply in the glass market (Anadolu Cam)
Erdem & Erdem (Istanbul)
Turkey 66 contributions 73173 visits
By its decision dated 5 June 2007, the Turkish Competition Board (Hereafter “CB”) examined the allegations of a glassware retail shop, Solmaz Mercan (“SM” or “Complainant”) stating that Anadolu Cam is violating Article 6 of the Act on the Protection of Competition n° 4054 (“Act n° 4054”) by abusing (...)

Mergers

 The EU Commission conditionally clears a merger in the healthcare nutrition products sector (Nestle / Novartis)
JG Associates (Brussels)
205 contributions 60663 visits
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DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 169 contributions 51240 visits
"Merger control: Main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2007"* In June the Commission approved the proposed acquisition of Novartis‘ Medical Nutrition business by Nestle. The approval was granted subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions. Nestle is active in the production, (...)

The Polish Competition Authority conditionally clears a merger referred back from the EC Commission in the large retail distribution sector while imposing supermarkets divestments (Carrefour Nederland/Ahold Polska)
Sdzlegal Schindhelm (Wroclaw)
Pologne 2 contributions 10009 visites
On 28 June 2007, the President of the Polish Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (the “President of the OPCC”) issued a merger control decision, providing conditional clearance for the intended acquisition of 100% of the shares in Ahold Polska Sp. z o.o. (“Ahold”) by Carrefour Nederland (...)

The Polish Competition Authority clears a merger in the retail distribution sector with remedies, including stores divestiture (Carrefour/Ahold)
Clifford Chance (Warsaw)
Pologne 6 contributions 14814 visites
The operation In the decision of 28.06.2007, the President of the OCCP consented to the takeover of Ahold Polska by Carrefour subject to a structural remedy. The market(s) The relevant product market of the concentration is the market of food and non-food retail through modern channels of (...)

The French Administrative Supreme Court upholds a merger in the audiovisual sector conditional to remedies (Métropole Télévision)
Brown Brothers Harriman (BBH) (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 30 contributions 73893 visits
The operation By a Court decision dated 27 June 2007, the French Administrative Supreme Court upheld a decision taken by the French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Employment on 27 October 2004 granting TV channels TF1 and AB with an authorisation to acquire Télé Monte-Carlo in a Phase I (...)

The EU Commission prohibits a merger between two airlines companies (Ryanair / Aer Lingus)
JG Associates (Brussels)
205 contributions 60663 visits
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DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 169 contributions 51240 visits
"Merger control: Main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2007"* On 27 June the Commission took the decision to prohibit the proposed takeover by Ryanair of Aer Lingus. Ryanair is an Irish-based “low-cost” airline, offering point-to-point scheduled air transport services on more than 400 (...)

The Latvian Competition Authority prohibits a merger finding that it would strengthen the dominant position in two geographically distinct markets of towing services in port (Ostas Flote / PKL)
PwC (Riga)
3 contributions 4498 visits
On June 27, 2007, the Latvian Competition Council (CC) prohibited a merger between Ostas Flote and PKL. The proposed merger structure would involve creation of a new company which would take over businesses of both companies. The CC found that a merger between the parties would strengthen the (...)

The EU Commission prohibits a merger in the airline industry using econometric and survey evidence to assess the non-coordinated effects of the merger (Ryanair / Aer Lingus)
DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 13 contributions 25401 visits
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Compass Lexecon (Brussels)
Belgium 11 contributions 15974 visits
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DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgique 5 contributions 1746 visites
"Econometric and survey evidence in the competitive assessment of the Ryanair-Aer Lingus merger"* I. Introduction Recently, the Commission prohibited the hostile takeover by Ryanair of Aer Lingus. The facts of this case differ from previous airline mergers assessed by the European Commission. (...)

The EU Commission prohibits a merger for the first time in the airline sector (Ryanair / Aer Lingus)
DG Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN) (Brussels)
Belgium 65 contributions 29594 visits
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European Commission (Brussels)
Belgium 9 contributions 8181 visits
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DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 1 contribution 1503 visits
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"Ryanair/Aer Lingus: Even “low-cost” monopolies can harm consumers"* I. Introduction The Ryanair/Aer Linguscase, which concerned a proposed merger of the two leading airlines operating from Ireland, raised a number of interesting procedural, legal and economic questions and required a (...)

The Hungarian Competition Office interprets the Competition Act’s provisions on merger joint control (Budapest Fováros Önkormányzata / Degrémont - OTV France - Hídépíto - Alterra)
Morley Allen & Overy Iroda (Budapest)
Hongrie 6 contributions 24035 visites
Background With its decision of 26 June 2007 (Decision), the Hungarian Competition Office (HCO) has approved a concentration whereby the city of Budapest (“Budapest City”) outsourced the operation of a sewage farm to a consortium consisting of Degrémont SA (Degrémont), OTV France (OTV), (...)

Swedish merger review: Rights of third parties to appeal merger decisions under Swedish and EU laws
Latham & Watkins (Brussels)
Belgique 1 contribution 3016 visites
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Roschier (Stockholm)
Suède 4 contributions 10924 visites
Merger control constitutes an area of law where limited harmonization has occurred between EU and national law. All Member States have their own merger control rules, which in some cases differ substantially with regard to jurisdictional thresholds, notification requirements, procedure and the (...)

The UK OFT decided to accept undertakings in lieu of a reference to the Competition Commission, including the vacation of an overnight airport parking stand (Flybe/BA Connect)
Baker McKenzie (Dusseldorf)
Allemagne 34 contributions 82334 visites
The operation By decision given on 7 February 2007, the Office of Fair Trading authorised Flybe, one of Europe’s largest largest low-cost airlines specialising in serving regional destinations, to acquire the assets of BA Connect1, the regional arm of British Airways plc which offers low fare (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority clears the creation of a joint venture while limiting the scope and duration of the non-compete obligation (ODE-Is-Girisim)
Esin (Istanbul)
Turkey 51 contributions 93153 visits
The operation ODE is a company primarily active in the business of isolation in Turkey. ODE performs the distribution of the leading firms in the field of isolation and it is a leading firm with the production activity carried out in 5 manufacturing plants in Turkey. ODE merges with Ductflex (...)

The Norwegian Competition Authority approved the creation of a new newspaper company, comprising one national and three regional titles, subject to behavioural remedies concerning the printing of third-party titles (Media Norge)
Bull Årstad (Stavanger)
15 contributions 31923 visits
The operation On 15 February 2007, the Norwegian Competition Authority (NCA) was notified of the merger of one national and three regional newspapers to form Media Norge AS. The national ‘Aftenposten’ is Norway’s second largest daily newspaper. The three regional titles were: ‘Bergens Tidene’ (...)

The European Commission acknowledges the abandonment of a proposed acquisition in automobile equipment industry (HgCapital/Denton)
JG Associates (Brussels)
205 contributions 60663 visits
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DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 169 contributions 51240 visits
"Merger control: Main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2007"* On 13 June the European Commission acknowledged the abandonment of the proposed acquisition of Denton (US) by the UK-based financial investment group HgCapital, owner of FTSS, and closed its investigation following the (...)

The Latvian Competition Council clears a merger in the specialized equipment manufacturing and sales business market (Volvo and Ingersoll-Rand Company)
Klavins Ellex (Latvia)
Lettonie 5 contributions 1616 visites
I. Introduction On 13 June 2007 Latvian Competition Council adopted a decision to permit the acquisition by AB Volvo (Volvo) of Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd. (IRC) individually divestible business - business of manufacturing and sales of specialized equipment. II. Background Volvo is a company (...)

The Hungarian Competition Authority clears a merger in the audiovisual sector subject to non-discrimination remedies (LGI Ventures/Audiotec Médiaszolgáltató)
Lakatos, Köves (Budapest)
Hongrie 15 contributions 34213 visites
The operation LGI is owned and controlled by Liberty Global Inc. ("Liberty group") and provides media services worldwide. The Audiotec Zrt. is one of the members of the Audiotec group, which develops television channels for children and for the youth, introduces them to the public and also (...)

A Dutch Court upholds the decision of the Dutch Competition Authority and confirms the remedies proposed by the telecommunciation incumbent in the transmission of wireless radio signals sector in order to remedy vertical effects (KPN Broadcast / Vodafone / UPC / Orange / NMa)
Philips (Amsterdam)
1 contribution 6450 visites
On 11 June 2007 the Dutch Court upheld the decision of the Dutch Competition Authority (NMa) in relation to KPN’s acquisition of the network transmission service company Nozema. The Court concluded that the NMa’s decision not to initiate a Phase 2 investigation was well founded. In December 2005 (...)

The UK Office of Fair Trading clears a merger in the retail pharmacy services sector, subject to the divestment of four retail pharmacies (Admenta Lloyds / IPCC)
Eli Lilly and Company (North Carolina)
États-Unis 3 contributions 8017 visites
The operation Lloyds is owned by Admenta Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of the German company Celesio AG, which also owns the pharmaceutical wholesaler AAH. Independent Pharmacy Care Centres plc (IPCC) comprises 34 retail pharmacies and one drug store (the latter does not have an NHS (...)

The German Competition Authority prohibits further merger of a dominant player in the electricity and gas sector in spite of proposed remedies (RWE / SaarFerngas)
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Berlin)
Germany 31 contributions 119868 visits
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Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Berlin)
Germany 17 contributions 70450 visits
A recent blocking decision against a merger between RWE and SaarFerngas, a Court decision upholding a blocking decision against E.ON (See Dr. Frank Röhling, Bertrand Guerin, The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court upholds a Bundeskartellamt decision blocking an energy merger (E.ON/ Stadtwerke (...)

The Dusseldorf Higher Regional Court upholds the NCA’s decision blocking an energy merger (E.ON / Stadtwerke Eschwege)
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Berlin)
Germany 31 contributions 119868 visits
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Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Berlin)
Germany 17 contributions 70450 visits
A recent blocking decision against a merger between RWE and SaarFerngas (See Dr. Frank Röhling, Bertrand Guerin, The German Federal Cartel Office prohibits further merger of a dominant player in the electricity and gas sector (RWE/SaarFerngas), e-Competitions, July 2007-I, a Court decision (...)

The German Competition Authority rejects the failing firm defence and prohibits a merger between two hospitals (Mariahilf / Asklepios)
Free University of Berlin
Germany 3 contributions 7131 visits
I. Background LBK Hamburg GmbH (LBK) is a leading supplier of hospital services in the city of Hamburg. Seven hospitals that stood originally in the sole sponsorship of the city of Hamburg are combined within the LBK. Since a partial privatisation in 2004 LBK is jointly controlled by the (...)

The Turkish Competition Authority cleared with remedy a merger in the port cargo services market subject to non-discrmination remedy (TCDD - Port of Izmir)
Esin (Istanbul)
Turkey 51 contributions 93153 visits
The operation With the Transfer of the Operation Rights Agreement, the right to provide services at the Port of Izmir belonging to and used by TCDD such as sheltering, loading, unloading, shifting, terminal, warehousing and wharfing services, the provision of water to the ships, waste (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority cleared in phase II a merger between the two main national airline companies with remedies including granting slots to third parties and not increasing the number of flights on certain routes (Portugália/TAP)
Uria Menéndez (Lisbon)
Portugal 10 contributions 39296 visites
On 5 June 2007 the Portuguese Competition Authority (“AdC”) cleared the acquisition by the state-owned airline company TAP of its main Portuguese competitor Portugália, subject to commitments. This was the first case held by the AdC where a merger regarding passenger air transportation services (...)

The Portuguese Competition Authority clears a merger in the air transport sector subject to remedies, including third parties access obligations, interlining agreements and freezing flights (Portugália/TAP)
PLMJ (Lisbon)
Portugal 17 contributions 37815 visites
The operation Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, SGPS, S.A. (TAP) is a state-owned company which mainly operates in the air transport of passengers. Portugália - Companhia Portuguesa de Transportes Aéreos, S.A. (PGA) mainly operates in the regional air transport of passengers. TAP intends to acquire (...)

The Romanian Competition Council cleared a merger in the fat oil manufacturing sector subject to remedy, including giving up of purchasing new trade marks (Bunge Romania/Agricover)
Fruth Oprisan (Bucharest)
Roumanie 6 contributions 14611 visites
The operation Bunge Romania SRL purchased some assets of Agricover SA consisiting in 4 fat oil trade marks and the other assets related to the manufacturing of fat oils The market(s) The relevant market consists in the market of fat oil manufacturing. Remedy: Commitment to give up (...)

The EU Commission approves, subject to divestiture, an acquisition in the travel services industry (TUI / First Choice)
JG Associates (Brussels)
205 contributions 60663 visits
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DG COMP (Brussels)
Belgium 169 contributions 51240 visits
"Merger control: Main developments between 1 May and 31 August 2007"* In June the Commission gave its approval to the proposed acquisition of First Choice, a UK travel services company, by TUI, parent of the German TUI group, active in tourism and shipping services. The Commission’s decision (...)

The OECD holds a roundtable on dynamic efficiencies in merger analysis
OECD - Competition Division (Paris)
France 290 contributions 777154 visits
Key documents: Executive Summary with key findings, Detailled Summary of the discussion, Background note Executive summary, by the Secretariat Considering the discussion at the roundtable, the delegates‘ submissions and the background paper, several key points emerge: (1) The distinguishing (...)

State Aid

 A Slovakian Regional Court rules on the central office on employment failure to issue formal decisions on its refusal to grant de minimis State aid (Emil Krajèík)
Nedelka Kubáč advokáti (Bratislava)
Slovaquie 3 contributions 6143 visites
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Ružička Csekes (Bratislava)
Slovaquie 3 contributions 6143 visites
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Ružička Csekes (Bratislava)
Slovaquie 3 contributions 6143 visites
The Regional Court ruled that the Central Office on Employment as well as regional employment offices breached rules on administrative proceedings by omitting to issue formal decisions on refusal to grant the de minimis state aid and incorrectly assessed criteria for provision of de minimis (...)

The French Administrative Court of Appeal of Lyon rules that trade chambers are not undertakings and rejects the claim of a claimant alleging that a tax for the expenses of these chambers amounts to unlawful State aid (Bellerivedis)
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton (Brussels)
Belgium 349 contributions 644149 visits
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European Court of Justice (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 64 contributions 113681 visits
Factual Background The society seeks the annulment the administrative tribunal of Clermont-Ferrand judgment rejecting its claims for reimbursement of a tax on the expenses of the trade chambers (from 1991 to 2002). The disputed tax is instituted by a provision of the general tax code and is (...)

The French Supreme Court rules that national courts have an obligation to take all the necessary measures when national procedural rules are not sufficiently favorable for a claimant wishing to demonstrate the existence of overcompensation for public service obligations (Laboratoires Boiron)
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton (Brussels)
Belgium 349 contributions 644149 visits
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European Court of Justice (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 64 contributions 113681 visits
Factual Background The company Laboratoires Boiron appeals the judgment of the Court of appeal of Lyon in litigation concerning a provision of the French Code de la santé publique (Public Health Code). The appellants which is a pharmaceutical laboratory specialising in homeopathic medicines (...)

The Swedish Administrative Court of Appeal of Göteborg rules that financial support from local government to a regional film production company infringes national State aid law (Uddevalla kommun)
Djungo (Stockholm)
Suède 22 contributions 53735 visites
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General Court of the European Union (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 16 contributions 31158 visites
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Öberg & Associés (Stockholm)
Suède 15 contributions 29108 visites
Factual Background In September 2005, the municipality of Uddevalla decided to give financial support of 900 000 SEK to Film i Väst, a regional film production company. Hans Jonasson, a local resident, appealed the decision to the Administrative Court. The Administrative Court considered that (...)

The Italian Administrative Court of Sardinia holds that when the EU Commission declares an aid to be incompatible, the unlawful aid should be recovered notwithstanding the fact that the national law that provided for the measure has not been repealed (Sardinia Lines)
Eujus (Rome)
Italie 16 contributions 27096 visites
Factual background The applicant was a company active in the sector of water transport. On 22 July 1992 Credito Industriale Sardo S.p.A. (C.S.I.), one of the major banks of Sardinia, granted the applicant an subsidised loan under Regional Law no. 20/1951. However, the European Commission, (...)

Procedures

 The Czech NCA publishes new version of the Leniency Programme
Dentons (Prague)
République tchèque 4 contributions 18410 visites
The new Leniency Programme of the Czech Office for Protection of Competition (the “Office) entered into effect on 28 June 2007. It replaced the previous 2001 programme and amended it according to the ECN Model Leniency Programme and the Commission’s Notice on Immunity from Fines and Reduction of (...)

The Luxembourg Administrative Tribunal and the Competition Authorities clarify the leniency regime and introduce a marker system
Bonn & Schmitt (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 24 contributions 86019 visits
The Luxembourg administrative tribunal (“Tribunal”) adopted on 13 June 2007 a landmark decision by clarifying the leniency procedure introduced by article 19 of the law of 17 May 2004 on competition (“the Law on competition”). The facts of the case were the following : a company, subject to an (...)

The Paris Court of Appeals receives observations - submitted for the first time to a national court since adoption of Reg. n° 1/2003 - from the European Commission (Garage Gremeau / Daimler Chrysler)
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Paris)
France 76 contributions 289500 visits
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Orange (Paris)
France 1 contribution 10698 visits
Background According to Article 15(3) of Council Regulation (EC) n° 1/2003, of 16 December 2002, on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (OJEC L 1, 4 January 2003, pp. 1-25), the European Commission (the “Commission”) may submit (...)

The Luxembourg Competition Authority announces a reform in its annual 2006 report
Bonn & Schmitt (Luxembourg)
Luxembourg 24 contributions 86019 visits
In its 2006 annual report, recently published on the website, the Luxembourg Competition Council (“Council”) announces a reform of the legislative framework, entered into force on 30 May 2004 and applied by the two authorities (being the Council and the Competition Inspectorate) since November (...)

Regulatory

 The Polish telecom regulator wishes to impose ex ante obligations on Internet interconnection agreements (Telekomunikacja Polska)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 5 contributions 22949 visites
Background reminder The Internet is often called the “network of networks”. A local Internet Service Provider (ISP) wishing to offer Internet services to end-users has to connect with other networks in order to allow his end-users to exchange traffic with other end users or content providers (...)

The French Competition Authority imposes price regulation on the electricity market through interim measures (Direct Energie / EDF)
Fréget (Paris)
France 39 contributions 134088 visits
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Novartis (Basel)
Suisse 6 contributions 36111 visites
On 28 June 2007, the Competition Council ordered interim measures against Electricité de France ("EDF"), imposing it to market base-load electricity to alternative suppliers at a price enabling them to effectively compete with the incumbent operator’s retail sales on the free market (i.e.: (...)

The Brussels Court of Appeal highlights the Member States’ margin of discretion as regards the method of financing the universal service obligation in the postal and telecommunication sectors (Belgacom - Fund for the universal service in the telecommunication sector)
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton (Brussels)
Belgium 349 contributions 644149 visits
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UGGC (Brussels)
Belgium 7 contributions 13615 visits
Background Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on universal service and users’ rights relating to electronic communications networks and services (Universal Service Directive) (OJEC L 108, 24 April 2002, pp. 51-77) provides that national regulatory (...)

The German Federal Court of Justice clarifies to what extent the Energy Regulator may request data and information of regulated network operators regarding the development and future practice of a concept of incentive regulation (Auskunftsverlangen)
Hengeler Mueller (Dusseldorf)
Germany 16 contributions 48135 visits
I. Background The German Energy Industry Act (Energiewirtschaftsgesetz, EnWG) was implemented in 2005, introducing inter alia the regulated third party access to energy networks. In this respect the Federal Network Agency (FNA - Bundesnetzagentur) and the smaller State Network Agencies (...)

The French Competition Council issues an opinion on the wholesale market for voice call termination on mobile networks (ARCEP)
Autorité de la concurrence (Paris)
France 599 contributions 229637 visites
Press Release published on the official website of the French Competition Authority. Wholesale market for voice call termination on mobile networks: The Conseil is in favour of continuing regulation but considers however that the risks of competition imbalances identified shall also be dealt (...)

The French Supreme Administrative Court annuls a State’s decision discriminating the reimbursement’s rate between princeps and generic drugs (GlaxoSmithKline)
Fréget (Paris)
France 39 contributions 134088 visits
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Novartis (Basel)
Suisse 6 contributions 36111 visites
1. The Regulatory Context: positive discrimination as a starting point and the TFR a possible end to it Sales of reimbursable medicines to consumers are heavily regulated in France, from the level of the pharmaceutical company manufacturing them all the way through to the ultimate individual (...)

The OECD holds a roundtable on competitive restrictions in legal professions
OECD - Competition Division (Paris)
France 290 contributions 777154 visits
Key documents: Executive Summary with key findings, Detailled Summary of the discussion, Background note Executive summary, by the Secretariat In the light of written submissions, the background note and the oral discussion, the following points emerge: (1) Regulation of the legal (...)

The Brussels Court of Appeal largely supports the Belgian Telecom Regulator’s decision on retail fixed telephone access markets (Belgacom / IBPT)
Leuven University
Belgique 9 contributions 48926 visites
Background The decision, which is under appeal, is adopted on 19 June 2006 by the Belgian post and telecom regulator, the BIPT/IBPT (Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications). Sector specific regulation for electronic communications, as harmonized on European level and (...)

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