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.<\/p>\n
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<\/strong>. ATG Media is one of the country’s largest suppliers of live online bidding platforms. The services allow bidders to bid on houses without having to attend the auction themselves, therefore bidding by proxy. However, the CMA’s investigations found that ATG media abused a dominant position by:<\/p>\n In one case, the CMA found evidence that ATG media asked some of the auction houses to “remove the lower commission rate offered by a [competitor]”. The authority concluded that such behaviour would restrict anti-competition by:<\/p>\n ATG Media’s control of the market by way of these methods has potentially distorted competition which can harm all consumers and players involved. Behaviour like this can be seen as a breach of both U.K. and E.U. competition laws.<\/p>\n The dominant company, hailed as a ‘global pioneer of auction portals and live and timed online auctions’, has taken a step back and agreed commitments to stop potentially breaching competition laws, including:<\/p>\n
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\nThe national competition watchdog were concerned over “suspected anti-competitive agreements or concerted practices and suspected abuse of dominance in the supply of auction services”, particularly by employing methods to restrict prices and competition. The suspects were Turner Topco Limited, ATG Media Holdings Limits, ATG Media Limited and Metropress Limited. Together, they are part of the ‘ATG Media’ corporation.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n Offering ‘best price’ clauses, promising to always provide its best rates, and thus preventing auction houses from going elsewhere.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Entering into exclusive arrangements with auction houses.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Preventing auction houses from promoting other live auction platforms.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n \n