CMA produces financial analysis working paper in the ongoing investigations into the care home sector

There are reportedly over 21,000 care homes in the U.K., and most of these are operated privately with over half of all residents receiving funding from local authorities or through the NHS.

Worth around £15.9 billion a year, there is an incredible amount of money going into providing care for the elderly and infirm residents, so it’s certainly an industry to keep an eye on.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) was made aware that certain practises may appear to result in the restriction of competition which is having an adverse effect on the quality of care and value for money in the care home industry. The CMA therefore launched a market study on 2^nd December 2016 to analyse the trends in investments, costs and if there is enough money being generated.
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CMA finds no grounds for action in preliminary investigations into single-wrapped impulse ice-creams

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a ‘no grounds for action’ decision after initial investigations into a reportedly dominant company that supplied individually wrapped impulse ice-creams in the U.K.

Impulse ice-creams refer to individual ice-creams sold to be eaten immediately, rather than taken home.

Less than six months after investigations were first opened on 16^th February 2017, the CMA are closing investigations into Unilever plc for suspected abuse of a dominant position.
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CMA investigating UK roofing materials sector for alleged anti-competitive arrangements

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have opened initial investigations into the UK roofing materials sector.

At this point in the very preliminary investigations, no presumption of infringement has been made: “The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objection to any of the parties under investigation.”

What the CMA will probably do at this stage is conduct investigations and carry out information gathering; which includes issuing formal or informal information requests where necessary .
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CMA reaches amicable conclusion over anti-competitive behaviour in auction services industry

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have reached a resolution in their investigations over online auction services for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. ATG Media addressed the CMA’s concerns and will be committing to undertakings to prevent further behaviour that may be construed as anti-competitive in the future.

The CMA commenced investigations on the 22 November 2016 into the supply of live auction platform services available in the U.K. after two complaints were made. Both complaints alleged that ATG Media imposed certain practices that meant their bidders couldn’t use a cheaper competitor’s service.
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CMA investigates sports equipment seller Ping for alleged anti-competitive conduct

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began investigations back in November 2015 over concerns that there was a restriction to competition in the sports equipment market.

On the 9^th June 2016, the CMA brought allegations against sports equipment seller Ping for suspected breaches of competition laws in the UK for prohibiting retailers from selling their gold clubs online.
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CMA remits part of its report about adverse effects on competition by the private healthcare industry

On 2^nd April 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) produced a report that identified some players in the private healthcare sector were engaging in behaviour that had an adverse effect of competition.

HCA Healthcare UK is one of the private hospitals that was investigated.

In this report, the CMA found that some consultants and healthcare service providers didn’t always publicise their performance or fees for clients. By doing this, clients were potentially prevented from being able to effectively ‘shop around’ by comparing public and private services and costs associated with the latter.
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CMA stops investigating the auction house industry in return for commitments

An investigation into the auction house industry was opened on 22^nd November 2016 after allegations there had been an abuse of a dominant position by introducing exclusionary and restrictive pricing in respect of online sales.

ATG Media is the largest provider of live online bidding platforms in the U.K. These platforms are used by auction houses to enable online live bidding without bidders having to attend in person. In August and September 2016, the CMA investigated allegations that ATG Media had engaged in anti-competitive conduct in relation to the provision of live online bidding auction platform services.
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Alleged anti-competitive conduct from suppliers of Remicade drug

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the pharmaceutical industry since 1^st December 2015 for suspected breaches of competition laws.

In one investigation, it’s alleged that pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD) engaged and operated in an anti-competitive discount scheme for its medicine brand Remicade which is the biological medicine called infliximab.
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Six Somerset estate agents breaching anti-competition laws issued fines by the CMA

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have concluded their investigations into a handful of estate agents who were suspected of engaging in anti-competitive and cartel behaviour.

Six estate agents in Somerset are being held liable for breaching Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 and were handed fines totalling £370,000. One of the agents escaped a fine as they were the first to confess their participation in the anti-competitive behaviour, and subsequently co-operated with the CMA in its investigation.
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CMA issues £1.5 million fine to several top model agencies

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ended investigations into several top model agencies and trade associations for anti-competitive behaviour.

The following model agencies were fined back in December 2016:

The Association of Model Agencies (AMA) was also fined £2,500.
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