Light suppliers and retailers infringing competition laws issued with £2.7 million fine

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.
Read More

Alleged anti-competitive conduct from suppliers of Remicade drug

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.
Read More

Six Somerset estate agents breaching anti-competition laws issued fines by the 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.
Read More

Update: is there a competition infringement in the supply of solid fuel products?

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.
Read More

CMA keeping a watchful eye on the online travel agents sector

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.
Read More

Suppliers of galvanised steel tanks have been slapped with hefty fines by the Competition and Markets Authority for anti-competitive behaviour

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.
Read More

CMA issues £1.5 million fine to several top model agencies

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.
Read More

CMA investigations into secondary ticketing websites who sell on tickets for inflated prices

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.
Read More

Four estate agents fined £372,233 for anti-competitive 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.
Read More

CMA are investigating alleged anti-competitive and abusive conduct in relation to the hydrocortisone tablets

The price of a “lifesaving” NHS drug has dramatically increased due to two companies allegedly agreeing not to compete with one another.

The competition watchdog, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has set up an investigation into an alleged anti-competitive agreement and abusive conduct in respect of hydrocortisone tablets. There’s a suspected breach of Chapters I and II of the Competition Act (CA), and Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) – competition laws.

Essentially, the companies involved are being accused of forming agreements that prevent competition as well as abusing a dominant position in the market.
Read More