The Turkish Competition Authority dismisses restrictions of online sales via third party platforms (BSH)

BSH Ev Aletleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (“BSH”), operating in Turkey under the Bosch and Siemens brands, as well as the local brand Profilo and the private brand Gaggenau, is active in the production, import, export, domestic distribution, and marketing of small and large household appliances, along with after-sales services. In late 2021, the Turkish Competition Board (“Board”) initiated a full-fledged investigation against BSH along with five other sector players for engaging in resale price maintenance and online sales ban on its dealers. Considering the provisions of the agreements between BSH and its authorized dealers, the Board found that the third-party platform bans are incompatible with the selective distribution system BSH carries out.