Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 23 JANUARY 2017

Cartels And Horizontal Agreements: Developments In The EU In December 2016

Van Bael & Bellis
Van Bael & Bellis
Contributor
Van Bael & Bellis

Van Bael & Bellis

Van Bael & Bellis is a leading independent law firm headquartered in Brussels with offices in...

View firm profile
Explore more from Van Bael & Bellis

On 7 December 2016, the European Commission fined Crédit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan Chase a total of €485 million for their participation in the euro interest rate derivatives cartel.

European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
Steve Ross
Steve Ross
Author LinkedIn connections

In this article, we give a factual overview of significant case developments at EU level in December 2016, and then provide a more detailed analysis of some important substantive or procedural developments addressed in these cases.

Summary of Significant Case Developments

European Commission imposes fines totalling €485 million in euro interest rate derivatives cartel case

On 7 December 2016, the European Commission fined Crédit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan Chase a total of €485 million for their participation in the euro interest rate derivatives cartel. The Commission found that these banks had colluded on euro interest rate derivative pricing elements and had exchanged commercially sensitive information over varying periods of time between September 2005 and May 2008.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Must Meta Open WhatsApp To Competing AI Assistants?

The European Commission has imposed interim measures requiring Meta to restore third-party AI assistant access to WhatsApp's Business API, marking a significant enforcement action under Article 102 TFEU. This decision addresses Meta's alleged abuse of dominant position by excluding competing AI assistants while maintaining access only for its own Meta AI. The case raises critical questions about competition enforcement in emerging digital markets and whether early foreclosure effects can irreversibly streng
BelgiumAntitrust/Competition Law
Steptoe LLP
Steptoe LLP
Article

EU Article 102 Guidelines What Businesses Need To Know Now

The European Commission has adopted its first comprehensive Guidelines on exclusionary abuses of dominance under Article 102 TFEU, marking a significant evolution in EU competition law enforcement. Following a three-year consultation process, these Guidelines codify evolving case law while addressing concerns about enforcement thresholds and introducing notable changes including the reintroduction of a 40% market share benchmark, refined evidentiary presumptions, and expanded guidance on digital markets and
European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
McDermott Will & Schulte
McDermott Will & Schulte
Article

EU General Court Upholds First-Ever “Ecosystem” Merger Prohibition

The EU General Court has upheld the European Commission's prohibition of Booking's acquisition of Etraveli, marking the first judicial endorsement of an "ecosystem" theory of harm in merger control. This landmark ruling validates the EC's use of reverse leveraging and entrenchment theories, establishing that dominant firms can be blocked from acquiring assets in adjacent markets even where they lack dominance in the target's market. The decision has far-reaching implications for digital platform acquisition
European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman
Article

EU General Court Upholds The Prohibition Of Booking/eTraveli

The EU General Court's landmark judgment in Booking Holdings v Commission marks a pivotal shift in merger control enforcement, validating the European Commission's authority to block conglomerate mergers based on ecosystem strengthening and market contestability concerns. This decision establishes that even marginal market share increases in adjacent markets can justify prohibition when they entrench dominance and reduce competitive dynamics.
European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
WilmerHale
WilmerHale
Article

European Commission Opens First Formal Antitrust Investigation In The Medical Devices Sector

The European Commission has launched its first formal antitrust investigation in the medical devices sector, examining whether Align Technology may have abused its dominant position by restricting interoperability between its Invisalign clear aligners and competing intra-oral scanners. The investigation focuses on allegations that the company created a closed ecosystem, forcing dental professionals to purchase iTero scanners to access Invisalign products for their patients.
European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
A&O Shearman
A&O Shearman