CMA issues furniture parts suppliers with fines totalling almost £3 million

First published by Author on August 11, 2017 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

The household goods, furniture and furnishings sector may be one of the last sectors anyone would consider to be involved in illegal cartels; but several suppliers of furniture parts were found to have breached competition laws by engaging in anti-competitive behaviour.

For this, the parties were fined a total of £2,818,000.

Our Competition Act prohibits behaviour that restricts competition in any market. Such behaviour can hinder healthy competition and distort product pricing as well as innovation. These can be very bad for the consumer.
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CMA stops investigating the auction house industry in return for commitments

First published by Admin on August 04, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma

An investigation into the auction house industry was opened on 22^nd November 2016 after allegations there had been an abuse of a dominant position by introducing exclusionary and restrictive pricing in respect of online sales.

ATG Media is the largest provider of live online bidding platforms in the U.K. These platforms are used by auction houses to enable online live bidding without bidders having to attend in person. In August and September 2016, the CMA investigated allegations that ATG Media had engaged in anti-competitive conduct in relation to the provision of live online bidding auction platform services.
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Light suppliers and retailers infringing competition laws issued with £2.7 million fine

First published by Admin on July 28, 2017 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has recently reached conclusions that suppliers of light fittings and retailers / resellers have breached competition laws i.e. Chapter I of the Competition Act (CA) and/or Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

The case was opened on 16^th August 2016 when the CMA were suspicious that anti-competitive agreements were being made between a supplier of light fittings, National Lighting Company Limited (‘NLC’), and its resellers. The products being investigated were the Saxby and Endon brands of domestic light fittings which included lamp shades, table lamps and wall light fittings.
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Alleged anti-competitive conduct from suppliers of Remicade drug

First published by Admin on July 21, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the pharmaceutical industry since 1^st December 2015 for suspected breaches of competition laws.

In one investigation, it’s alleged that pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD) engaged and operated in an anti-competitive discount scheme for its medicine brand Remicade which is the biological medicine called infliximab.
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Six Somerset estate agents breaching anti-competition laws issued fines by the CMA

First published by Admin on July 14, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have concluded their investigations into a handful of estate agents who were suspected of engaging in anti-competitive and cartel behaviour.

Six estate agents in Somerset are being held liable for breaching Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 and were handed fines totalling £370,000. One of the agents escaped a fine as they were the first to confess their participation in the anti-competitive behaviour, and subsequently co-operated with the CMA in its investigation.
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Update: is there a competition infringement in the supply of solid fuel products?

First published by Admin on July 07, 2017 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

In November 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into the supply of solid fuel products in the U.K.

The investigation relates to Chapter I of the Competition Act (CA) 1998 that bans agreements made between two or more companies that prevent, restrict or distort competition within the U.K., and as a result may affect the trade or market within the U.K.

We have blogged about anti-competitive agreements in the solid fuel industry before, and here is an update on the current situation.
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CMA keeping a watchful eye on the online travel agents sector

First published by Admin on June 30, 2017 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

Back in September 2010, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into suspected breaches of competition laws in the recreation and leisure market sector.

Hotels were suspected of breaching competition laws by discounting restrictions in arrangements between hotels and online travel agents.

Ever since, the CMA has been keeping a very close eye on what is a lucrative and multinational industry where competition is significantly important.
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Suppliers of galvanised steel tanks have been slapped with hefty fines by the Competition and Markets Authority for anti-competitive behaviour

First published by Admin on June 23, 2017 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma | price fixing

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded their investigations into suppliers of galvanised steel tanks after over 3 years of investigations.

The CMA has issued a series of penalty fines to four suppliers, reaching £2.5million in total. Details of the investigation and reasons for the size of the fine were published on the CMA’s website on 29^th March 2017.
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CMA issues £1.5 million fine to several top model agencies

First published by Admin on June 15, 2017 in the following categories: Investigations and tagged with cma

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has ended investigations into several top model agencies and trade associations for anti-competitive behaviour.

The following model agencies were fined back in December 2016:

The Association of Model Agencies (AMA) was also fined £2,500.
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CMA investigations into secondary ticketing websites who sell on tickets for inflated prices

First published by Admin on June 02, 2017 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with cma

Back in 2012, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was prompted to open investigations amidst concerns that secondary ticketing websites were buying mass quantities of tickets for concerts, sports games and other performances, to sell them on at a higher price.

These websites have the disposable income to buy a large percentage of available tickets so that the remaining tickets being sold at retail price will run out quickly. As a result, consumers may be left with no choice but to buy them from the secondary ticketing website at a higher cost.
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