Category: Industry

Antivirus software competition investigation

First published by Author on April 18, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with cma | competition law | investigations

An antivirus software competition investigation has been launched by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) in the last few months.

What’s interesting about this case is that it was launched as part of the wider reviews following the loyalty penalty super complaint initiated by Citizens Advice. The loyalty penalty super complaint could trigger a number of reviews across a wide range of market sectors.

If it’s all in the name of improving competition and enforcing compliance of the vital regulations that we have in place to protect consumers, we’re all for it.

Latest in the statutory audit market study

First published by Author on March 14, 2019 in the following categories: Incentives Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with cma | competition law | investigations

The statutory audit market study was launched in October 2018, and we’re set to know more about the outcomes toward the end of this year.

This is a key market sector where the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has raised a number of concerns that they’re looking into. Despite previous improvements in the sector that appear to have strengthened competition, Deloitte, E&Y, KPMG and PwC reportedly remain the “go-to” auditors for the majority of large companies.

There’s also a concern as to whether there’s a lack of incentive to produce challenging reviews in terms of the performance of the companies as well.

Online hotel booking investigation update

Here’s the latest in the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) online hotel booking investigation that has been focused on consumer law compliance.

The initial investigation was launched back in October 2017, with enforcement action taken in June 2018. It’s an important one given the breadth of the online hotel booking market, and how confusing it can be. Competition in this key sector should always be healthy, and any infringements of the law cannot go unpunished.

We’re pleased to see that the latest developments in the online hotel booking investigation has seen undertakings agreed by numerous parties involved.

Crackdown after social media influencer investigation

First published by Author on February 08, 2019 in the following categories: Incentives Investigations Latest Selling Restrictions and tagged with advertising | cma | competition law | incentives | investigations

A crackdown has been launched after a social media influencer investigation raised concerns that some product endorsements may be breaching vital competition law.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reportedly written to a number of high-profile celebrities about their social media influencing habits. As a result of the warning letters, some social medial influencers have promised to clearly state if they’re being rewarded for endorsing products. Among those who have made the formal commitments are singers Rita Ora and Ellie Goulding.

We welcome this move and the cooperation of those involved so far.

Pharmaceutical competition investigation extended

First published by Author on February 01, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with cma | competition law | market study | Pharmaceuticals | pricing

The pharmaceutical competition investigation has had a key deadline extended this month. The time being allowed for the analysis of information has been moved.

The ongoing pharmaceutical competition investigation is an important one. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into potential breaches of important competition law. Specifically, they’re looking at two different generic pharmaceutical drugs and whether there are illegal anti-competitive agreements and conduct in place.

This is an important sector when it comes to healthy competition. Any breaches need to be severely punished.

Investigation into financial services sector for suspected anti-competitive practices

First published by Author on January 25, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Latest and tagged with cma | investigations

investigation into retail banking competition

The CMA opened an investigation into the financial services sector for suspected anti-competitive practices at the end of last year.

The investigation has only just begun, so no assumptions are made as of yet. The particular companies who may be of interest in the investigation are yet to be named, and it’s the initial information-gathering stage that has begun.

The financial services sector is a huge one, so healthy competition is important. Any breaches of the law will need to be punished accordingly.

Extra time allowed in the Asda Sainsbury merger investigation

First published by Author on December 28, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Mergers and tagged with cma | marktet sharing | mergers

Extra time has been allowed for the lawyers involved in the Asda Sainsbury merger as the CMA looks to protect consumer rights and ensure healthy competition remains.

When news of the £7.3bn Asda Sainsbury merger hit the news, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) were quick to act. Their role as the UK’s competition watchdog is to ensure that the behaviours of businesses in a market does not come at a detriment to the consumer. In this investigation, the concern is over whether prices could increase as the merger would lead to the companies overtaking Tesco as the largest supermarket chain in the UK.

The extra time that has been allowed is for the lawyers acting in the Asda Sainsbury merger venture to respond to a number of concerns that have been raised.

Loyalty penalty CMA investigation concludes

The massive loyalty penalty CMA investigation – deemed a ‘super complaint’ – has resulted in a set of reforms to stop the issue affecting people.

The investigation found “damaging practices by firms, which exploit unsuspecting customers”. This issue is estimated to equate to a cost to the consumer in the region of £4bn per year. There are thought to be millions of people affected by loyalty penalties.

The loyalty penalty CMA investigation looked at five markets: savings; insurance; mortgages; mobile phone contracts; and broadband. New regulatory rules are set to be introduced to stamp out the loyalty penalty endemic.

The Heathrow parking competition infringements case

First published by Author on December 14, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Latest Price Fixing Pricing and tagged with cma | price fixing | pricing

A hefty fine has been issued in the wake of the Heathrow parking competition investigation that drew to a conclusion a couple of months ago.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued a fine of £1.6m to Heathrow after they admitted to competition law infringements. The fine was originally £2m, but as a result of Heathrow’s cooperation and acceptance of wrongdoing, they received a leniency discount of 20%.

The investigation surrounds how parking charge rates were set in connection with the operator of Terminal 5 Hotel, Arora Group.

Huge funeral costs investigation development

First published by Author on November 29, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest Pricing and tagged with cma | competition law | funerals market | market abuse | pricing

There’s been a huge development in the regulator’s funeral costs investigation that we’ve been tracking for a long time now.

The Regulators, the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority), are set to move from a market study to a referral for a market investigation. Their interim report states that there are “reasonable grounds for suspecting that a feature or combination of features of a market or markets in the UK prevents, restricts or distorts competition”.

The CMA now want to look into any adverse impact on the consumer. For a huge and sensitive market that’s worth something like £2bn a year, this is big news.