On 17 January 2011, the French Competition Authority (the 'Authority') published draft guidelines for setting antitrust fines.

On 17 December 2010, the French Competition Authority ("the Authority") ended proceedings opened against several companies suspected of price fixing in the liquefied petroleum gas market, because Shell and its subsidiary Butagaz provided fabricated evidence for the purpose of their leniency request.

On 18 January 2010, the French Competition Authority (the 'Authority') issued a decision fining four companies for anticompetitive practices in the context of procurement contracts relating to painting services for naval equipment and engineering structures.

On 10 February 2011 the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) imposed fines totalling approx. €20.5m on three manufacturers of fire engines for price fixing and quota agreements.

This week, the BKartA imposed a fine of approx. € 1 million for price fixing and customer allocation against five manufacturers as well as a wholesaler of paper plates.

The long running case by the Irish Competition Authority against an Irish beef industry association (the Beef Industry Development Society (BIDS)) has finally concluded after an out of court settlement was reached.

On 15 September 2005, the Director of the CNC Investigations Divisions, and the Chairmen of the Spanish Post Office (Sociedad Estatal Correos y Telégrafos, S.A. – 'Correos') and the Professional Association of Mail Distribution and Handling Companies (Asociación Profesional de Empresas de Reparto y Manipulado de Correspondencia – 'ASEMPRE').

On 16 February 2011, officials from the CNC conducted unannounced inspections at the premises of several major companies active in the manufacturing and distribution of polyurethane foam in Spain.

On 24 March 2011, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (the 'CAT') handed down judgment on six further appeals against the level of fines imposed by the OFT on construction firms for engaging in cover pricing.

The OFT has referred the acquisition by Kerry Foods Limited of the frozen ready meals business of Headland Food Limited to the CC under the Enterprise Act 2002.

On 8 February 2011, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) referred Stena AB's completed acquisition of two Irish Sea ferry services from DFDS A/S to the Competition Commission (CC).

The Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') supported by Ofwat, has launched a market study into the market for the treatment of organic waste.

According to data disclosed under a Freedom of Information Act request, the Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') accepted every one of the 25 leniency applications it received in 2010 compared with only 13 of the 15 applications it received in 2009.

On 25 February 2011, the Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') issued a Statement of Objections ('SO') to CH Jones, alleging that it had abused a dominant position in the market for bunker fuel cards services, contrary to the Chapter II prohibition of the Competition Act and Article 102 of the TFEU.

On 20 June 2011, the Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') announced that it was going to refer the anticipated acquisition by BATS Trading Limited of Chi-X Europe Limited to the Competition Commission ('CC') for further regulatory scrutiny in accordance with its powers under the Enterprise Act 2002.

On 8 April 2011 the Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') published the text of a request for the referral of the UK aspects of Aditya Birla Group's proposed acquisition of Columbian Chemicals Acquisition LLC to the European Commission ('Commission').

Following an appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal ('CAT') by Ryanair, the Office of Fair Trading ('OFT') has put on hold a decision as to whether or not to refer Ryanair's minority stake in Aer Lingus for further phase II investigation.

The Competition Commission ('CC') has provisionally cleared the completed acquisition by Sector Treasury Services Limited ('STS') of Butlers (a trading division of ICAP plc) which provides treasury management advisory ('TMA') services.

The OFT has referred to the CC the anticipated acquisition by Ratcliff Palfinger Limited of the commercial vehicle tail lifts spare parts business of Ross & Bonnyman Limited.

Thomas Cook, Co-operative Group ('CGL') and Midlands Co-operative Society ('Midlands') have requested that the OFT fast track their proposed joint venture, under which the parties intend to merge their travel agency and retail call centre businesses.