The Turkish Competition Authority finds a joint venture liable for anti-competitive collusion after its initial decision that the joint venture did not restrict competition (Sodexo / Edenred)

On 15.04.2019, the Turkish Competition Authority ("TCA") published its reasoned decision whereby it imposed administrative fines totalling to approximately TRY 8 million (EUR 1,2 million) against Sodexo and Edenred (two leading undertakings in the market for meal card services market [1] in Turkey) as well as Network Servisleri A.Ş. ("Network"), a joint venture ("JV") established by Sodexo and Edenred for managing the technical infrastructure of the meal card services. The TCA decided that Sodexo and Edenred engaged in anti-competitive collusion and that this collusion was further facilitated by Network. The most interesting aspect of TCA's Meal Card Decision is the fact that Sodexo and Edenred had sought TCA's approval before the formation of Network in 2001 and the TCA had held that