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ARTICLE · 15 FEBRUARY 2016

Retail Closer Than Ever To Competition Authorities' Hearts

Reed Smith (Worldwide)
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Investigations of this type look for outright price-fixing, resale price maintenance and restrictions on sales.

European UnionAntitrust/Competition Law
Edward Miller
Edward Miller
Sakil Suleman
Sakil Suleman
Marjorie C. Holmes
Marjorie C. Holmes
Roch Glowacki
Roch Glowacki
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Following a number of European Commission sector inquiries (which included investigations into the energy, financial services and pharmaceuticals sectors), the competition authorities at both European and national levels have now turned their attention to markets affecting the retail sector. This is illustrated by the recent inquiries by the commission into e-commerce and by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the modelling agencies sector.

Investigations of this type look for outright price-fixing, resale price maintenance and restrictions on sales. It is common for sector inquiries to be followed by individual investigations and so retailers will no doubt want to follow these investigations closely.

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