Company director sentenced in precast concrete drainage products criminal cartel case

The CMA has announced that Barry Kenneth Cooper, a company director involved in the precast concrete drainage products criminal cartel case, has been sentenced to two years’ imprisonment suspended for two years and made the subject of a six month curfew order from 6pm to 6am. He has also been disqualified from acting as a company director for seven years. Click here.

CMA issues provisional findings in Euro Car Parts/Andrew Page merger

The CMA has provisionally found that the purchase by Euro Car Parts of much of the Andrew Page business could damage competition in the supply of car parts in 10 local areas. Click here.

Culture Secretary confirms reference of Fox/Sky merger to CMA on public interest grounds

The Culture Secretary has confirmed that her final decision is to refer the proposed merger of 21st Century Fox and Sky to the CMA for a Phase 2 investigation on the grounds of media plurality and genuine commitment to broadcasting standards. Click here.

EU

Articles 101 and 102

  • An Advocate General’s opinion has recommended that a commitment decision adopted by the European Commission in relation to specific agreements between undertakings should not preclude national courts from examining the conformity of those agreements with the competition rules and, if appropriate, declaring them to be invalid. Click here.
  • The ECJ has dismissed appeals by LG Electronics Inc and Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV in relation to the European Commission’s decision on the cathode ray tubes cartel. Click here.
  • The General Court has dismissed the appeal by Contact Software against a European Commission decision, which rejected its complaint concerning a breach of Article 102. Click here.
  • The ECJ has handed down a judgment on the application of Article 102 to excessive pricing, following a reference from the Latvian courts. The ECJ held that it is appropriate to compare rates with those applicable in other Member States, provided that they have been selected in accordance with objective, appropriate and verifiable criteria and that the comparisons are made on a consistent basis. Click here.

UK

CMA

  • Following a reference from the FCA, the CMA has launched a market investigation into investment consultancy and fiduciary management services. Click here.