IN THE NEWS
ECJ dismisses Commission appeal against General Court judgment in copper fittings cartel
The European Commission's appeal against a General Court judgment that upheld an appeal by Aalberts against the Commission's decision on the copper fittings cartel has been dismissed by the ECJ. Although the ECJ held that the General Court had erred in failing to consider whether Aalberts and its two subsidiaries constituted a single undertaking, this did not undermine the General Court's annulment of the whole of the Commission's decision as regards Aalberts and its subsidiaries. Click here.
OFT publishes final guidance on leniency
The OFT has published the final version of its revised guidance on applications for leniency and no-action in cartel cases. The guidance aims to provide a clear and practical framework for leniency applications. The new guidance is accompanied by two 'Quick Guides', one aimed at businesses and one aimed at individuals. Click here.
OFT issues statement of objections to alarm system suppliers
The OFT has issued a statement of objections to four suppliers of access control and alarm systems to retirement properties, on the basis that they have allegedly engaged in collusive tendering arrangements and anticompetitive information exchange, in breach of the Chapter I prohibition of the Competition Act 1998. Click here.
EU
Articles 101 and 102
- The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into whether Bulgarian Energy Holding and its subsidiaries may be abusing its dominant position, contrary to Article 102 TFEU, following concerns that that these companies might be hindering competitors from accessing key gas infrastructures in Bulgaria. Click here.
UK
Competition Appeal Tribunal
- The CAT has published a summary of an application brought by Société Coopérative de Production SeaFrance SA for review of the CC's final report on the acquisition by Groupe Eurotunnel S.A. of certain assets of SeaFrance S.A. Click here.
Competition Commission
- The CC has published its final report on the anticipated acquisition by AG BARR plc of Britivic plc, confirming its provisional findings that the merger would not be likely to give rise to a substantial lessening of competition in any market in the UK. The CC did not consider the parties' products as being close competitors and found limited evidence of diversion between the parties' products. Click here.
- The CC has published an annotated issues statement as part of the private motor insurance market investigation. Click here.
Office of Fair Trading
- The OFT has published a research report examining the impact of reverse-fixed payments on competition. Click here.
- The OFT has published its decision not to refer the completed joint venture between Daily Mail General Holdings Limited, the trustees of the Iliffe Settlement and Trinity Mirror plc to the CC. Click here.
Ofcom
- Ofcom has published a statement on its decision to vary mobile licences in the 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands to permit the deployment of 4G services. Click here.
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