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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The importance of the CMA in regulating the medical equipment industry

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?

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 16^th 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

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?

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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Are online gambling companies playing a sleight-of-hand?

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 update on the investigation in to the personal and small business banking sector

The Competition and Markets Authority has been investigating the supply of Personal Current Accounts (PCA) and banking services to small and medium sized enterprises on suspicion of anti-competitive behaviour.

The CMA conducted the investigation after complaints and concerns were made over the services retail banks provided. The main areas focused on were:

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