Enforcement investigation launched in the secondary ticketing sector

First published by Admin on December 30, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

The Office of Fair Trading (the U.K.’s former competition watchdog) launched an investigation into the secondary ticketing market back in 2012. As a result of the investigation, four secondary ticket sellers gave undertakings to the current competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Now, the CMA has recently launched an enforcement investigation to see whether the sector are complying with consumer protection laws.
read more

The pharmaceutical industry’s £90 million fine for anti-competitive pricing

First published by Admin on December 26, 2016 in the following categories: Price Hikes and tagged with cma

Earlier this month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued an infringement decision that two companies had breached competition laws.

The CMA found that Pfizer (Ltd and Inc) and Flynn Pharma (Ltd and Holdings) both abused their respective dominant positions by imposing unfair prices for phenytoin sodium capsules that they sold in the U.K. This infringed the Chapter II Prohibition of the Competition Act (CA) and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
read more

Has DX and First Post merger created a substantial lessening of competition in the market?

First published by Admin on December 25, 2016 in the following categories: Mergers and tagged with cma

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are in the process of deciding whether DX Network Services Ltd (DX) and First Post Ltd (First Post) merger has created a ‘substantial lessening of competition in the market’.
read more

Offering discounts can amount to breach of competition laws in the Pharmaceutical industry

First published by Admin on December 24, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation in December 2015 for a suspected breach of EU and U.K. competition laws in the pharmaceutical industry.

The CMA are looking at whether an unnamed pharmaceutical company has abused a dominant market position by offering discounts on products, which may have breached Chapter II of the Competition Act (CA), and Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
read more

Director has been disqualified for five years for infringement of Competition law

First published by Admin on December 23, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

This case shows the range of powers of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Recently, the CMA managed to secure the disqualification of a director who breached competition law.

Daniel Aston, a former director of Trod Limited, infringed the Competition Act from March 2011 to July 2015 by making an anti-competitive agreement with GB Eye Limited. The agreement detailed that both companies wouldn’t offer to sell licensed sport and entertainment posters and frames for a lower cost than the other.

This is a clear breach of fair competition rules.
read more

“Leased line charges to be reviewed by the CMA” – CityFibre and TalkTalk appeals to the CAT

First published by Admin on December 22, 2016 in the following categories: Latest

The Competition and Markets Authority has recently opened a case to investigate the prices that BT charges in providing lease line services to other telecom providers.

Two telecom providers – CityFibre and TalkTalk – have appealed to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) following an Ofcom decision in their three-year Business Connectivity Market Review (BCMR).
read more

“Is there a lack of competition in the Euro Car Parts acquisition?” – The CMA are investigating whether the acquisition between Euro Car Parts has decreased competition

First published by Admin on December 21, 2016 in the following categories: Latest

Recently, the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) served an initial enforcement order (IEO) against the LKQ Corporation Group, who owns the U.K. subsidiary Euro Car Parts Limited. The order was served on the LKQ Group following their recent acquisition of the Andrew Page business.
read more

“A lack of competition in SSCP’s recent acquisition?” – CMA are investigating whether SSCP has acted anti-competitively in Acorn acquisition

First published by Admin on December 20, 2016 in the following categories: Acquisitions and tagged with cma

In September this year, the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) served an Initial Enforcement Order (IEO) on Stirling Group and SSCP Spring Topco for an allegation that they acted anti-competitively in their recent acquisition.

Earlier this year, Acorn Care 1 Ltd was acquired by SSCP Spring. Acorn is a reputable care service provider who offers special needs education, residential and foster care, for children and young adults with complex needs.

But the acquisition may be in breach of the rules!
read more

“Suspected anti-competitive agreements in the solid fuel industry” – Agreements that could infringe EU and national competition laws

First published by Admin on December 19, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are looking into an alleged anti-competition agreement made between companies for the supply of solid fuel products in the U.K.

There are no substantive grounds to find that there has been a breach of national and EU competition laws at present, but the CMA was notified of the suspicions, and an investigation was recently launched.
read more

“Anti-competitive agreements in the Tobacco industry” – Authorities have fined two manufacturers and nine retailers £225 million

First published by Author on December 16, 2016 in the following categories: Latest

In April 2008 there were concerns into whether the tobacco manufacturing industry was unlawfully fixing cigarette prices.

As a result of the concerns, the Competition and Markets Authority (formerly the Office for Fair Trading) investigated several manufacturers and retailers, including Imperial Tobacco, Gallaher Group, Asda, Somerfield Stores, and Co-operative Group Food for their potential infringements of competition law: specifically in relation to the retail pricing of certain tobacco products.
read more