Archives
CMA look to take enforcement action against online gambling companies
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on 23rd June 2017 that they will be taking action against a number of online gambling companies for alleged anti-competitive behaviour.
Online gambling companies are often relying on ‘free bet’ promotions a lot these days. The volume of advertising for ‘free bets’ on TV, Radio and the Web speaks for itself.
It’s obvious that people are being enticed to join up, and the CMA is concerned that companies aren’t explaining what can often be stringent terms and conditions gamblers are then tied to when they sign-up to their services…
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On 2nd 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 fines Pfizer and Flynn Pharma £90 million for abuse of dominant market position and price hiking
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cracked down on excessive and unfair pricing allegations over Phenytoin Sodium capsules. Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Flynn Pharma are accused of abusing dominant positions in the sector to inflate profits; breaking U.K. and EU competition laws in the process.
The CMA’s investigations were reportedly hampered as Pfizer failed to provide information as requested by the authorities.
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CMA investigates care home sector
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently opened an investigation in the care homes industry over concerns that the industry is breaching consumer laws.
On 13th June 2017, the competition watchdog opened an investigation into several care home providers for two primary reasons:
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Unfair Funfairs: update on CMA investigation in to the leisure industry
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the leisure industry as the funfair sector has allegedly breached competition laws under Chapter I of the Competition Act (CA).
The Chapter I prohibition bans agreements made between two or more companies that prevent, restrict or distort competition within the U.K. The result of such agreements is that markets can adversely suffer, and consumers can be left with higher prices and reduced innovation and quality.
Where the CMA suspects there are illegal agreements in place, they’ll often investigate the issues to stamp out any problems.
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CMA issues furniture parts suppliers with fines totalling almost £3 million
The household goods, furniture and furnishings sector may be one of the last sectors anyone would consider to be involved in illegal cartels; but several suppliers of furniture parts were found to have breached competition laws by engaging in anti-competitive behaviour.
For this, the parties were fined a total of £2,818,000.
Our Competition Act prohibits behaviour that restricts competition in any market. Such behaviour can hinder healthy competition and distort product pricing as well as innovation. These can be very bad for the consumer.
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Light suppliers and retailers infringing competition laws issued with £2.7 million fine
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently reached conclusions that suppliers of light fittings and retailers / resellers have breached competition laws i.e. Chapter I of the Competition Act (CA) and/or Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
The case was opened on 16th August 2016 when the CMA were suspicious that anti-competitive agreements were being made between a supplier of light fittings, National Lighting Company Limited (‘NLC’), and its resellers. The products being investigated were the Saxby and Endon brands of domestic light fittings which included lamp shades, table lamps and wall light fittings.
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Update: is there a competition infringement in the supply of solid fuel products?
In November 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into the supply of solid fuel products in the U.K.
The investigation relates to Chapter I of the Competition Act (CA) 1998 that bans agreements made between two or more companies that prevent, restrict or distort competition within the U.K., and as a result may affect the trade or market within the U.K.
We have blogged about anti-competitive agreements in the solid fuel industry before, and here is an update on the current situation.
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CMA keeping a watchful eye on the online travel agents sector
Back in September 2010, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into suspected breaches of competition laws in the recreation and leisure market sector.
Hotels were suspected of breaching competition laws by discounting restrictions in arrangements between hotels and online travel agents.
Ever since, the CMA has been keeping a very close eye on what is a lucrative and multinational industry where competition is significantly important.
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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded their investigations into suppliers of galvanised steel tanks after over 3 years of investigations.
The CMA has issued a series of penalty fines to four suppliers, reaching £2.5million in total. Details of the investigation and reasons for the size of the fine were published on the CMA’s website on 29th March 2017.
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