Hain Frozen Foods and Orchard House Foods Competition Merger Inquiry

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) is investigating the completed acquisition by Hain Frozen Foods UK Limited of Orchard House Foods Limited.

With any merger and acquisition activity, it’s important to ensure that competition in the market is not lessened through a reduction in the amount of competitors competing in the market. If you only have five or six competitors, and two of them merge, you’re now down to only three of four competing against each other.

Off the back of these business activities, the CMA will usually have a look in to whether there is any cause for concern.
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Energy price comparison websites being investigated for anti-competitive behaviour

Third party intermediaries / price comparison websites are being investigated by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) for suspected anti-competitive behaviour.

Ofgem had originally been investigating the issue which has now been formally transferred to the CMA to complete the enquiries. The investigation is in to whether there has been a breach of the Competition Act by companies allegedly agreeing to behaviours relating to the use of keyword search advertising online.
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The Truck Cartel in a nutshell

We’ve already blogged about this and we’re already taking action on what’s happened; but in case you want a bit of a “nutshell” guide as to what’s happened, read on:

Companies who bought heavy to medium trucks between 1997 and 2011 may be able to claim damages due to the investigation and finding of truck cartel involving several truck companies. A cartel is in breach of the Competition Act 1998 and the Enterprise Act 2002.

in addition, due to the truck companies involved being international and supplying to the EU, the companies also being held to have breached The Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union; thus breaching EU law.
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Arriva North and Northern Rail merger – CMA Investigation

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether a merger situation has taken place between Arriva Rail North and Northern Rail Limited that would result in a substantial lessening of the market(s) in the UK.

On 1^st April 2016 an initial enforcement notice was served by the CMA on to Arriva Rail North to ensure that no action is taking place until it has been determined whether the potential merger would cause a substantial lessening of competition.

With the current state of our rail system already a less-than-pleasant experience for consumers with high prices, cramped carriages, and regular delays, there are real and valid concerns over this situation.
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The Competition Lawyers – what we do!

Competition law is a specialist and technical area of law.

We help people claim damages against organisations who have broken the law on fair competition. In today’s society we are governed by important legislation that is designed to allow fair competition to take place in the markets so consumers can benefit as well as businesses.

But when businesses put profits before their customers… That’s when we get involved.
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