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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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CMA investigations into secondary ticketing websites who sell on tickets for inflated prices
Back in 2012, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was prompted to open investigations amidst concerns that secondary ticketing websites were buying mass quantities of tickets for concerts, sports games and other performances, to sell them on at a higher price.
These websites have the disposable income to buy a large percentage of available tickets so that the remaining tickets being sold at retail price will run out quickly. As a result, consumers may be left with no choice but to buy them from the secondary ticketing website at a higher cost.
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CMA update on the investigation in to the personal and small business banking sector
The Competition and Markets Authority has been investigating the supply of Personal Current Accounts (PCA) and banking services to small and medium sized enterprises on suspicion of anti-competitive behaviour.
The CMA conducted the investigation after complaints and concerns were made over the services retail banks provided. The main areas focused on were:
- Whether there is a weak customer response due to lack of engagement and/or barriers to searching and switching reducing the incentives on banks to compete on price and/or quality and/or to innovate;
- Whether there are barriers to entry and expansion constraining the ability of banks to enter or expand; and
- Whether the level of concentration is having an adverse effect on customers
Nurofen’s producer fined £3.6 million for their misleading marketing
Nurofen’s British producer, Reckitt Benckiser, has been fined 3.6 million pounds after it was found that they had misled customers with Nurofen Specific Pain products.
In December 2015, courts found the pharmaceutical manufacturer to be involved in “misleading conduct” by representing that Nurofen Specific Pain products targeted a specific area.
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Monitoring project of anti-competitive pricing in online travel agents sector
Following the closure of the investigation into online travel agents’ pricing practices in the hotel online booking sector in September 2015, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has since continued to monitor the industry closely.
The investigation was first launched in September 2010 where there was a suspected breach of Chapter I of the U.K. competition law (the Competition Act) in the hotel online booking sector. The investigation looked into whether there were restrictions in agreements made between InterContinental Hotels Group and Hotel InterContinental London Limited and each of Booking.com and Expedia.
It was alleged that both Booking.com and Expedia entered into agreements with InterContinental Hotels Group which had the ability of restricting online travel agents to discount price of room-only hotel accommodation.
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Unfair funfair for fairgoers! CMA targets Funfair business!
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently issued a statement of objections to the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, a trade association for the travelling funfair business, for its alleged anti-competitive practices.
The Guild’s 127-year-old carnival rules have allegedly protected their own Guild showmen from competition and reduced the chances for potential new attractions to join fairs. This could potentially limit free choice of millions of fairgoers as well as deprive them of access to improved rides and attractions. This could also hinder the fairgoers value for money as a lack of competition can mean a hike in prices.
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U.S. poultry producers subject to multiple lawsuits for alleged anti-competitive behaviour
Tyson Foods are subject to anti-competitive lawsuits for alleged poultry price-fixing and collusion in America.
Being the world’s second largest processor of poultry, competition regulation is especially necessary to ensure they’re not making a monopoly and adversely affecting the markets.
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CMA’s investigation into the pharmaceutical industry for its steep price increase
Pharmaceutical companies are being investigated over ‘unacceptable and unethical’ price hikes.
The health department spokesman said that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are carrying out five investigations into the pharmaceutical and health sector.
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Steel water tank suppliers fined a total of £2.6 million for anti-competitive practices
The U.K. competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has issued two decisions imposing fines on three suppliers in the steel tank industry for anti-competitive practices. The companies involved are: Franklin Hodge Industries Ltd; Galglass Ltd; Kondea Water Supplies Ltd; and CST Industries (U.K.) Ltd.
The civil investigation, which has been ongoing since 2012, has finally come to a head with The CMA satisfied that suppliers of galvanised steel tanks have infringed U.K. and EU competitions laws.
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