IN THE NEWS

Dawn raids in lead recycling sector

European Commission officials have conducted unannounced inspections at the premises of several purchasers of lead scrap (used to produce recycled lead) in a number of member states, following a suspected breach of Article 101. Click here.

Statement of objections issued in suspected food packaging cartel

The European Commission has sent a statement of objections to 13 companies that it suspects have participated in an illegal cartel in relation to food packaging. Click here.

Virgin Atlantic appeals Commission's conditional approval in IAG/bmi merger

Virgin Atlantic Airways has lodged an appeal challenging the European Commission's decision to grant conditional approval to the acquisition by International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) of British Midlands Limited (bmi). Virgin alleges that the Commission incorrectly assessed the counterfactual situation that it used to consider the merger and made a number of further material errors in its competitive assessment. Click here.

EU

Article 101/102

  • The General Court has dismissed an appeal by Guardian against the European Commission's decision fining them for participation in the flat glass cartel. Click here.
  • Akzo Nobel is appealing a European Commission decision which rejected a request for confidential treatment in respect of the decision on the bleaching chemicals cartel. In particular, Akzo Nobel is challenging the publication of an extended non-confidential version of the cartel decision which contains information from its leniency application. Click here.

Mergers

  • The European Commission has granted conditional approval to the acquisition of Milk Link by Arla, having found that the merger would combine the two leading suppliers of long-life milk in the UK, significantly reducing competition in that market. The clearance is conditional upon the divestment of Milk Link's sole long-life milk processing facility. Click here.

UK

Competition Commission

  • The CC has published its statement of issues on the anticipated acquisition by The Rank Group plc of Gala Casinos Limited. Click here.
  • The CC has made an interim order under section 81 of the Enterprise Act 2002 to prevent Ryanair from taking pre-emptive action to prejudice its investigation into Ryanair's completed acquisition of a minority stake in Aer Lingus. The CC has also accepted interim undertakings from Aer Lingus. Click here.

OFT

  • The OFT has published the full non-confidential version of its 2011 decision on dairy retail price initiatives, which found that four supermarkets and five dairy processors breached the Chapter I prohibition of the Competition Act 1998 by coordinating price increases for milk and/or cheese through indirect exchange of retail pricing intentions. Click here.

Ofcom

  • Ofcom has issued a statement on the 4G spectrum auction process, suggesting that the 4G auction process should begin at the end of 2012, which it believes should enable competitive 4G services across the UK during the first half of 2013. Click here.

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