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Investment consultants market investigation updated
The investment consultants market investigation currently underway by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been updated.
The CMA opened their investigation last year after the FCA referred matters over for a market investigation. The CMA has been looking into ‘the supply and acquisition of investment consultancy services and fiduciary management services to and by institutional investors and employers in the UK’.
This followed an interim report published by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) in 2016 where they proposed that the investment consultancy market be referred for a competition investigation.
A Royal Mail competition fine has been issued in the sum of £50m by the UK communications regulator for abuse of a dominant market position.
Regulators Ofcom accused the Royal Mail of penalising wholesale customers over bulk mail deliveries for things like council tax demands and bank statements. They were fined for discriminating against a rival, Whistl, who were subject to contractual changes back in 2014.
These changes included price increases that led to Whistl scrapping expansion plans that cost the business millions of pounds.
Online dating competition investigation concludes
The online dating competition investigation conducted by the CMA has come to a conclusion, with undertakings agreed by Venntro Media Group Limited.
The investigation was launched in October 2017 by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) over concerns about breaches of consumer protection law. The concerns surrounded advertising, use of consumers’ data and potentially unfair terms and conditions.
Venntro has now agreed to a number of undertakings in order to satisfy the CMA’s concerns and ensure fair competition in the online dating sector.
Care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation updated
The care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation now has a key update. A consultation has been opened for drafting consumer law advice for UK providers.
The care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation has been going on since June 2017. It has been looking into a number of care home providers as a result of concerns over the contract terms and practices they engage in. The CMA have been concerned that some of the practises are breaches of consumer law.
A market study is also underway in addition to the specific care home investigations.
Design, construction and fit-out competition case to continue
Watchdog investigations into the design, construction and fit-out competition issues is set to go on, according to a recent update published by the CMA.
The CMA – the Competition and Markets Authority – have been investigating the industry since July 2017 on the basis of suspected anti-competitive agreements that may be having an adverse effect on the market, and therefore the consumer.
A year on from the CMA’s investigations commencing, the CMA has taken the decision to extend the investigation with the view to publish a further update toward the end of the year.
CMA consider appeal in phenytoin competition case
The CMA is considering an appeal in the phenytoin competition case after a Tribunal found that the CMA ruling of market abuse is incorrect.
The phenytoin competition case is one of the most pivotal cases of our time in terms of the cost of drugs to the NHS. A number of investigations and findings have been made against pharmaceutical giants for overcharging the NHS, putting huge strains on public finances, and the CMA’s intervention is vital for the survival of our public health service.
The Tribunal decision in the phenytoin competition case is a setback that the CMA is now considering an appeal for.
Informing the CMA of a competition concern
Informing the CMA of a competition concern can be vital to ensure that our markets are fair, and to ensure they’re focused on consumer confidence and competitive pricing.
You may find yourself, as a business, embroiled in a potential competition issue. It may be that you’re being asked to engage in price-fixing or market-sharing, or you may discover that suppliers or competitors are engaging in behaviour that’s in breach of the Competition Act.
Discovering this can be worrying, but we can help. As the Competition Lawyers, we can guide you through the process of a damages claim as well as the matter of informing the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) of a competition concern.
Musical instruments and equipment sector competition investigations
The musical instruments and equipment sector is in the midst of competition investigations over suspected anti-competitive agreements.
The UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), are investigating the sector in accordance with Chapter I CA98 and Article 101 TFEU.
This massively profitable market sector has boomed in recent years. Now, under the microscope of UK competition regulators, we will find out if there is anything that the consumers need to be concerned about when it comes to competition within the market.
Asda-Sainsbury’s merger will raise competition questions
The Asda-Sainsbury’s merger will raise competition questions and will, we strongly suspect, draw the attention of the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Market’s Authority (CMA), who will conduct a review to assess the impact the merger may have on the market.
With the merger set to result in Asda and Sainsbury’s controlling 60% of the market, the CMA will need to ensure that any merger that does go ahead – if it’s even allowed to proceed in the first place – will not put consumers in a worse position in the long-run.
Consumers are being promised price cuts of 10%, but in the absence of any specificity as to the products that will be cut, the potential merger has raised a lot of eyebrows.
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UK pharmaceutical companies paying millions of pounds to healthcare professionals
According to a report from The Times newspaper, UK pharmaceutical companies are reportedly paying millions of pounds to healthcare professionals and other organisations.
American pharmaceutical companies have previously come under fire for reportedly paying healthcare professionals to push their products, and it now appears the UK may have the same problem.
According to The Times, two of the biggest pharmaceutical players in the UK have been making “secret payments” of almost £20 million to reportedly “plug” their products.
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