Our monthly commentary on the main developments in national and international antitrust law and policy.
EU
Irish beef reference. On reference from the Irish Supreme Court, the European Court of Justice has ruled that an agreement between Irish beef processors to reduce production capacity may amount to an infringement of Article 81 of the EC Treaty.
French beef case appeal. The European Court of Justice has dismissed the appeals of four French federations of farmers and one French federation of slaughterers fined by the European Commission for a price agreement and an agreement to suspend/limit imports from other member states.
Rubber chemicals cartel appeal. The Court of First Instance has dismissed an appeal brought by three companies fined by the European Commission for their participation in a rubber chemicals cartel.
Car glass cartel fines. The European Commission has fined four companies a total of €1.38 billion for participating in a car glass cartel.
Campina/Friesland Foods: Phase II clearance. The European Commission has approved the proposed merger of Friesland Foods and Campina following a Phase II investigation.
State aid for banks: communication published. The European Commission has published a communication on the measures that can be taken to recapitalise financial institutions in the current global financial crisis in line with the application of the state aid rules.
Article 82 guidance paper published. The European Commission has published a guidance paper on its enforcement priorities for the enforcement of Article 82 of the EC Treaty to exclusionary abuses.
Belgium
Alleged abuse of dominance interim measures application rejected. The Belgian competition authority has rejected a request for interim measures from UGC Belgium NV against Kinepolis Group for relief against an alleged abuse of Kinepolis' dominant position.
Germany
Mars fined for implementing merger before clearance. The German Federal Cartel Office has fined Mars Inc. €4.5 million for implementing a notified merger before obtaining clearance.
The Netherlands
Fines for late notification of a concentration. The Dutch Competition Authority has fined both a purchaser and a seller in a notifiable transaction for failing to notify a concentration.
United Kingdom
Merger remedy guidelines. The UK Competition Commission has published new guidelines setting out its approach to remedies in assessing mergers that are likely to lead to a substantial lessening of competition.
Competition Commission blocks BOC/Ineos merger. The UK Competition Commission has blocked the proposed acquisition by BOC Limited of the packaged chlorine business and assets of Ineos Chlor Limited.
Revised guidance on leniency. The Office of Fair Trading has published revised guidance on the handling of applications for leniency from fines under the Competition Act 1998 and no-action in relation to prosecution for the Enterprise Act 2002 cartel offence. Download Full Report
EU
Irish beef reference. On reference from the Irish Supreme Court, the European Court of Justice has ruled that an agreement between Irish beef processors to reduce production capacity may amount to an infringement of Article 81 of the EC Treaty.
French beef case appeal. The European Court of Justice has dismissed the appeals of four French federations of farmers and one French federation of slaughterers fined by the European Commission for a price agreement and an agreement to suspend/limit imports from other member states.
Rubber chemicals cartel appeal. The Court of First Instance has dismissed an appeal brought by three companies fined by the European Commission for their participation in a rubber chemicals cartel.
Car glass cartel fines. The European Commission has fined four companies a total of €1.38 billion for participating in a car glass cartel.
Campina/Friesland Foods: Phase II clearance. The European Commission has approved the proposed merger of Friesland Foods and Campina following a Phase II investigation.
State aid for banks: communication published. The European Commission has published a communication on the measures that can be taken to recapitalise financial institutions in the current global financial crisis in line with the application of the state aid rules.
Article 82 guidance paper published. The European Commission has published a guidance paper on its enforcement priorities for the enforcement of Article 82 of the EC Treaty to exclusionary abuses.
Belgium
Alleged abuse of dominance interim measures application rejected. The Belgian competition authority has rejected a request for interim measures from UGC Belgium NV against Kinepolis Group for relief against an alleged abuse of Kinepolis' dominant position.
Germany
Mars fined for implementing merger before clearance. The German Federal Cartel Office has fined Mars Inc. €4.5 million for implementing a notified merger before obtaining clearance.
The Netherlands
Fines for late notification of a concentration. The Dutch Competition Authority has fined both a purchaser and a seller in a notifiable transaction for failing to notify a concentration.
United Kingdom
Merger remedy guidelines. The UK Competition Commission has published new guidelines setting out its approach to remedies in assessing mergers that are likely to lead to a substantial lessening of competition.
Competition Commission blocks BOC/Ineos merger. The UK Competition Commission has blocked the proposed acquisition by BOC Limited of the packaged chlorine business and assets of Ineos Chlor Limited.
Revised guidance on leniency. The Office of Fair Trading has published revised guidance on the handling of applications for leniency from fines under the Competition Act 1998 and no-action in relation to prosecution for the Enterprise Act 2002 cartel offence. Download Full Report
-
Add to bookmarks
-
Email to a friend
- Social bookmark and share
-
RSS
-
Print Page
-
