Category: Investigations
Four estate agents fined £372,233 for anti-competitive price-fixing
First published by Admin on May 26, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma | price fixing
Four residential estate agencies admitted to anti-competitive practices for price-fixing and have been fined thousands of pounds as a result.
In December 2015, an investigation was launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after a previous CMA investigation into the advertising of fees in the estate and letting agency sector. The current investigation looked into whether the estate agents breached Chapter I of the Competition Act (CA). In simpler terms, Chapter I of the CA highlights agreements between companies that prevent, restrict or distort competition.
What they found was evidence of anti-competitive behaviour.
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Looking back on one of the biggest anti-competitive investigations in the construction industry…
First published by Admin on May 19, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with price fixing
Nearly 100 companies were fined up to £130 million for cover pricing back in 2009.
Back in November 2004, the now closed Office of Fair Trading (OFT) opened up their investigations into more than a hundred companies suspected of foul play in the infrastructure industry, mainly for cover pricing. Cover pricing is an illegal activity under the Competition Act in England and Wales where participants warp the tender process of bidding for a job.
In total, their investigation resulted in fines being issued to over 100 companies totalling nearly £130 million.
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The importance of the CMA in regulating the medical equipment industry
First published by Admin on April 26, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma
The Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) recent decision to close their investigations into the medical equipment sector has raised concerns for many.
Although the competition watchdog didn’t come to a conclusive decision as to whether the medical equipment industry violated competition laws, they did however decide to close the case on ‘priority administrative grounds’.
This doesn’t mean that the industry are not guilty of anti-competitive behaviour though…
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Are loyalty schemes now seen as an anti-competitive practice?
First published by Admin on April 14, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) recently opened a public inquiry for suspected anti-competitive conduct relating to loyalty schemes.
Although the Gov.uk website doesn’t detail masses of information on the investigation, there’s a suspected breach of UK and EU competition laws in relation to loyalty-inducing practices in consumable goods.
The investigation opened on the 16th February this year. The CMA has allowed a period of time from February to May to gather information, including gathering formal or informal information requests and parties’ responses. The competition watchdog will then have to make a decision in June whether to proceed with the investigation or to close the investigation.
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Competition and Markets Authority issues £2.8 million fine to two furniture suppliers for anti-competitive behaviour
First published by Admin on March 27, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma
The Competition and Markets Authority has issued a hefty £2.8 millionfine after two suppliers of products to the furniture industry admitted to anti-competitive behaviour.
The CMA opened their investigation in March last year after two suppliers of drawer wraps and fronts were suspected to be conducting illegal cartel agreements to share the market. As a result of the investigations, fines in the millions have been issued after breaches were identified.
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“Hanging out the dirty laundry” – The cleanroom laundry industry exposed?
First published by Admin on March 21, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma
The cleanroom industry is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for suspected anti-competitive agreements. If true, they’ll likely be found in breach of competition laws.
Two suppliers of cleanroom laundry services and products – Micronclean Ltd (formerly Fenland Laundries Ltd); and Berendsen Cleanroom Services Ltd (formerly Micronclean (Newbury) Ltd) – are suspected of breaching competition laws by marketing and sharing products, and/or services, under the ‘Micronclean’ brand. The suppliers allegedly divided up customers by geographical ‘territory’ and/or customer type under the agreement.
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Is Formula 1 guilty of anti-competitive practices?
First published by Admin on March 14, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations
Formula 1 is receiving limelight that it probably isn’t used to.
Members of the European Parliament have given their blessing to the European Commission to undertake an inquiry on Formula 1’s suspected “anti-competitive practices”.
Many spectators are unaware of the happenings ‘behind the scenes’ of the sport; however the investigation launched by the European Commission may shed some light in alleged ‘underground-esque dealings’.
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Are online gambling companies playing a sleight-of-hand?
First published by Admin on March 06, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma
An inquiry into the gambling industry has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The competition watchdogs are concerned whether the gambling companies are treating their customers fairly.
In an industry as valuable as this, it’s important the CMA investigate any potential infringements that could affect consumers.
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CMA investigate care homes for the elderly
First published by Admin on January 16, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma
The Competition and Markets Authority has recently started a market study into the care homes for the elderly to see how well the market works, and to ensure people are being treated fairly.
Not long ago, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) began looking into whether care home providers are treating their residents and representatives in a fair manner. In this study, the CMA is encouraging any interested persons to come forward with any information to help them.
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