Expert legal advice from The Competition Lawyers

Tag: cma

“A lack of competition in SSCP’s recent acquisition?” – CMA are investigating whether SSCP has acted anti-competitively in Acorn acquisition

First published by Admin on December 20, 2016 in the following categories: Acquisitions and tagged with

In September this year, the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) served an Initial Enforcement Order (IEO) on Stirling Group and SSCP Spring Topco for an allegation that they acted anti-competitively in their recent acquisition.

Earlier this year, Acorn Care 1 Ltd was acquired by SSCP Spring. Acorn is a reputable care service provider who offers special needs education, residential and foster care, for children and young adults with complex needs.

But the acquisition may be in breach of the rules!
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“Suspected anti-competitive agreements in the solid fuel industry” – Agreements that could infringe EU and national competition laws

First published by Admin on December 19, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with

solid fuel cma investigation

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are looking into an alleged anti-competition agreement made between companies for the supply of solid fuel products in the U.K.

There are no substantive grounds to find that there has been a breach of national and EU competition laws at present, but the CMA was notified of the suspicions, and an investigation was recently launched.
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“Is the cleaning services sector lacking a competitive edge?” Alleged anti-competitive agreements in the industry may be an infringement of the Competition Act

First published by Author on November 17, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with

The cleaning services sector is the next sector to receive the limelight and an investigation from the UK’s Competition Markets Authority (CMA).

In March this year, the CMA launched an investigation into alleged agreements following allegations that the sector were involved in anti-competitive arrangements, which claimed an infringement on the Competition Act 1998.

These are very serious allegations.
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“Energy Markets Competition Remedies” – Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation has led to a positive outcome for healthy competition in the energy market

First published by Author on November 14, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the supply and acquisition of energy in Great Britain. The two year investigation was sparked when the CMA became concerned with competition in the energy markets, and the pricing for domestic and micro business customers (micro businesses defined as with fewer than 10 employees.)
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“CMA’s Energy Price Comparison investigation given the red light” – The investigation into companies agreeing not to bid for the same search terms has closed, says the CMA

First published by Admin on November 11, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with

Back in October last year, the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) initiated an investigation into energy price comparison websites as a result of suspected anti-competitive behaviour.

Now, the CMA has decided to close the case on ‘administrative priority grounds’.
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“A Monopoly between Britain’s largest Adult Gaming companies” – CMA investigates the merger of Novomatic and Talarius

First published by Author on October 24, 2016 in the following categories: Mergers and tagged with

In early September, the CMA announced an investigation into the merger between Australian gambling operator, Tatts, and Austrian Gaming Giants, Novomatic. The merger came when Talarius U.K. (subsidiary company of Tatts) failed to reach their targeted profits and sold on their U.K. division to Novomatic on 24 June for £116 million.

The merger could be seen as ‘fishy’ as both companies are seen as big players in the British Adult Gaming industry, with Talarius machines operating in approximately 170 venues across the U.K.
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Arriva Rail North / Northern rail franchise merger may result in significant lessening of competition in some areas

First published by Author on September 13, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) have been investigating the merger situation of Arriva Rail North and Northern rail franchise to identify whether competition may be affected.

It’s always a danger when competition could be lessened through companies merging together and / or acquisition situations, which is why the CMA often gets involved in these scenarios.

The CMA has completed their initial findings and has identified some areas of the market which may face a substantial lessening of competition.
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Cash machine merger being investigated by the CMA over competition concerns

First published by Author on September 08, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with

The completed Diebold / Wincor Nixdorf merger has led to a CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) investigation as to whether the merger will result in concerns for competition in the market.

The investigation has been called an “in-depth investigation” because there is already a concern that the merger will result in the “substantial lessening” of competition in the market.

The companies are being asked for undertakings, or they could face sanctions from the CMA.
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Lack of retail banking competition sparks investigation

First published by Admin on August 05, 2016 in the following categories: Latest and tagged with

In 2014, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into the personal current account and the small and medium sized enterprises of the retail banking sectors.

The reasons for the investigation were: concerns raised about the low level of customers shopping around and switching banks; customers having difficulty in comparing banks due to lack of transparency; limited entry of new banks to the market;  expansion within the sector which prevented smaller providers being able to develop; and the four largest banks market shares moving very little.

It is believed that competitive pressures are weak, so banks do not have to work as hard on prices or the quality of their service. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) want banks to work harder for their customers.
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