Expert legal advice from The Competition Lawyers

Tag: cma

Undertakings in the online gambling competition investigation

First published by Author on November 23, 2018 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with | | |

gambling

The regulatory investigation into online gambling competition led to undertaking being signed by key players in the market.

Undertakings are always a positive step in ensuring there’s fair competition in the market. The regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), declared enforcement action earlier this year. Now, two big companies in the market have agreed to formal undertakings to improve their practises.

This should ensure that online gambling competition is healthy and consistent. This approach should always benefit the consumer.

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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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Online dating competition investigation concludes

First published by Author on September 28, 2018 in the following categories: Advertising Compensation Claims and tagged with | |

cma to investigate online dating

The online dating competition investigation conducted by the CMA has come to a conclusion, with undertakings agreed by Venntro Media Group Limited.

The investigation was launched in October 2017 by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) over concerns about breaches of consumer protection law. The concerns surrounded advertising, use of consumers’ data and potentially unfair terms and conditions.

Venntro has now agreed to a number of undertakings in order to satisfy the CMA’s concerns and ensure fair competition in the online dating sector.

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Care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation updated

First published by Author on September 21, 2018 in the following categories: Care Homes and tagged with | |

retirement homes investigation

The care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation now has a key update. A consultation has been opened for drafting consumer law advice for UK providers.

The care home Competition and Markets Authority investigation has been going on since June 2017. It has been looking into a number of care home providers as a result of concerns over the contract terms and practices they engage in. The CMA have been concerned that some of the practises are breaches of consumer law.

A market study is also underway in addition to the specific care home investigations.

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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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CMA consider appeal in phenytoin competition case

First published by Author on August 17, 2018 in the following categories: Market Sharing Price Fixing Price Hikes Pricing and tagged with | | | |

The CMA is considering an appeal in the phenytoin competition case after a Tribunal found that the CMA ruling of market abuse is incorrect.

The phenytoin competition case is one of the most pivotal cases of our time in terms of the cost of drugs to the NHS. A number of investigations and findings have been made against pharmaceutical giants for overcharging the NHS, putting huge strains on public finances, and the CMA’s intervention is vital for the survival of our public health service.

The Tribunal decision in the phenytoin competition case is a setback that the CMA is now considering an appeal for.

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