In the News

European Commission fines car parts suppliers under settlement procedure

The European Commission has imposed fines of €141 million on four car parts suppliers for operating five bid-rigging cartels in relation to the supply of wire harnesses to car manufacturers, through use of its settlement procedure. A fifth company avoided fines of over €291 million since it received full immunity under the Commission's Leniency Notice. Click here.

European Commission inspects internet connectivity providers

Officials of the European Commission, accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities, have conducted unannounced inspections at the premises of a number of telecommunications companies which provide internet connectivity in several member states, following concerns that the telecommunications companies may have breached Article 102 TFEU. Click here.

ECJ delivers judgment in international removal services cartel appeal

The ECJ has delivered its judgments in appeals by Ziegler, Gosselin and Team Relocations against the General Court's judgments which largely upheld the European Commission decision to fine the companies for price-fixing, market-sharing and bid-rigging in the market for international removal services. The ECJ dismissed these appeals in their entirety and the initial fines imposed on the companies remain. In addition, the ECJ upheld the fine imposed on Portielje, the parent foundation of Gosselin, which the General Court had annulled. Click here.

EU

Articles 101 and 102

  • The General Court has dismissed appeals by BVGD and Spira against the European Commission's decisions to reject their complaints regarding certain aspects of De Beers' "Supplier of Choice" arrangements for the supply of diamonds, on the grounds that there was an insufficient Community interest. Click here.
  • The European Commission has published a draft revised version of its notice on agreements of minor importance that do not appreciably restrict competition under Article 101(1) TFEU. The revised "de minimis notice" is intended to reflect relevant case law that has established that any agreement which has the object of preventing, restricting or distorting competition within the internal market constitutes an appreciable restriction of competition, regardless of the effects it may have. The text of the de minimis notice has therefore been revised to make it clear that the de minimis thresholds do not apply to agreements that are anti-competitive by object. Click here.
  • The European Commission has published a summary of its decision to accept legally binding commitments offered by Air Canada, United Airlines and Lufthansa, members of the Star Alliance. The decision relates to an agreement between the parties in respect of a revenue-sharing joint venture, which the Commission felt had both the object and effect of restricting competition. Click here.

UK

Competition Appeal Tribunal

  • The CAT has published an order transferring a claim for damages brought by Teva UK Limited and Norton Healthcare Limited against Reckitt Benckiser to the Chancery Division of the High Court. Click here.
  • The CAT has published an order on the future conduct of the applications 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.
  • The CAT has published an order granting The Number (UK) Limited permission to withdraw its appeal against Ofcom's decision on simplifying non-geographic numbers. Click here.

Competition Commission

The CC has announced its provisional findings in relation to the anticipated merger of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The CC has provisionally concluded that the proposed merger would reduce choice in a number of clinical specialties for local patients. The CC will now consider evidence relating to any benefits that the merger may give rise to. Click here.

Office of Fair Trading

The OFT has responded to a petition from FairFuelUK, a campaign group which is calling for a full, open and transparent inquiry into oil pricing. Click here.

Ofcom

Ofcom is consulting on its review of the wholesale broadband access markets. Click here.

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