Expert legal advice from The Competition Lawyers

Category: Investigations

The CMA statutory audit market investigation

First published by Author on November 16, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Latest and tagged with | |

The CMA’s (Competition and Markets Authority) statutory audit market investigation was launched last month.

A number of key issues are being looked into by the CMA to make sure that the market is working fairly and efficiently. Comments on the key issues are being invited, and a statutory deadline has been applied to the investigation.

It’s early days, with the investigation only being launched last month. It’s another important one for us to keep an eye on as lawyers who fight for competition to be fair and consumer-focused!

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Most favoured nation clause competition law investigation

First published by Author on November 09, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Market Dominance Abuse and tagged with | |

Pharmaceutical abuse

There’s been an update in an ongoing most favoured nation clause competition law investigation being conducted by the CMA.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has an open investigation looking into whether there’s been a breach of competition law. This case surrounds the use of a ‘most favoured nation clause’ used by a price comparison website in the home insurance market.

The companies being investigated for alleged breaches of competition law include BGL (Holdings) Limited; BGL Group Limited; BISL Limited (BISL); and Compare The Market Limited.

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Victory in Ping competition appeal tribunal

First published by Author on November 02, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest Selling Restrictions and tagged with | |

production and broadcasting of sports

The CMA’s previous competition infringement decision has been upheld at the Ping competition appeal tribunal.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) had previously established a breach finding against Ping Europe Limited. Ping had banned the sale of its golf clubs online which had triggered an investigation by the CMA.

Having assessed the issue, the CMA found that Ping was in breach of competition law by stopping two UK retailers from selling their golf clubs online. The Ping competition appeal tribunal has now upheld the original finding of the breach as well.

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The funerals market study

First published by Author on October 19, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with | |

green heating and insulation

The funerals market study is a currently being conducted by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) in the UK.

The scope of the funerals market study is to find out more information about the market to ensure it’s working fairly and efficiently. The key areas being assessed by the CMA include customer behaviours, customer experiences and decision-making processes that have led to customer decisions.

The review was initiated in summer this year and remains ongoing.

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Investment consultants market investigation updated

First published by Author on October 12, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with |

finance and credit cards

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.

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Do you need competition law advice?

First published by Author on September 16, 2018 in the following categories: Compensation Claims Investigations and tagged with

competition

If you need competition law advice if you think a breach has taken place and the breach has affected you, our Competition Lawyers can help.

Whether you’re an individual who feels you’re on the wrong end of a competition breach, a business owner whose supply chain needs investigating, or a whistle-blower at an organisation where a breaches are happening, we may be able to help you.

With fines from the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), potentially running into the million of pounds, and compensation claims for victims of competition breaches, organisations cannot afford to breach the law; let alone the fact they ought to be acting with the best interests of the consumer in mind anyway.

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Design, construction and fit-out competition case to continue

First published by Author on September 07, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with | |

cma construction

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.

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Commitments in the Showmen’s Guild competition case

First published by Author on August 25, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with |

cma funfair investigation

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) accepted commitments made after the Showmen’s Guild competition case, with a link to rules of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain 2018 published last month.

The case itself surrounded the use of rules issued by the Showmen’s Guild that reduced the ability of new attractions to join fairs, thus limiting competition. Potentially millions of funfair visitors could be affected by the issue, resulting in a stifling of competition and deprived access to new and improved rides and attractions with motivation for invocation in the sector potentially low.

With members of the Showmen’s Guild making up for some 90% of the sector in the UK, and worth an estimated £100m a year, any competition issue in the sector could clearly have a huge impact on the consumers.

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Hotel booking sites watchdog investigation calls for changes

First published by Author on August 10, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations Pricing and tagged with |

booking sites

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the hotel booking sites watchdog, has called for changes in to the way rooms and ranked and displayed online.

According to the investigations initiated by the CMA , concerns are being raised about potentially false or misleading discounts, and false representations about room availability to pressure people into making booking decisions.

With the majority of people using online booking sites nowadays, any potential infringement of competition law must be closely scrutinised.

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Venntro Media Group complaints leads to CMA warning

First published by Author on July 06, 2018 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with |

cma to investigate online dating

Venntro Media Group complaints has led to a warning issued from the UK’s competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

According to the recent report, Venntro had the profiles of users of some of their online dating platforms appear on other website platforms, including websites containing explicit adult content. The CMA found that users’ information was being held on a central database, making their profiles visible on websites they hadn’t signed up to.

Venntro Media Group complaints were received by the CMA by people who were not happy that they had been signed-up to websites without realising or being properly informed; especially when some of those were adult websites.

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