The pharmaceutical industry’s £90 million fine for anti-competitive pricing

Earlier this month, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued an infringement decision that two companies had breached competition laws.

The CMA found that Pfizer (Ltd and Inc) and Flynn Pharma (Ltd and Holdings) both abused their respective dominant positions by imposing unfair prices for phenytoin sodium capsules that they sold in the U.K. This infringed the Chapter II Prohibition of the Competition Act (CA) and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
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Has DX and First Post merger created a substantial lessening of competition in the market?

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are in the process of deciding whether DX Network Services Ltd (DX) and First Post Ltd (First Post) merger has created a ‘substantial lessening of competition in the market’.
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Offering discounts can amount to breach of competition laws in the Pharmaceutical industry

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation in December 2015 for a suspected breach of EU and U.K. competition laws in the pharmaceutical industry.

The CMA are looking at whether an unnamed pharmaceutical company has abused a dominant market position by offering discounts on products, which may have breached Chapter II of the Competition Act (CA), and Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
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Director has been disqualified for five years for infringement of Competition law

This case shows the range of powers of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Recently, the CMA managed to secure the disqualification of a director who breached competition law.

Daniel Aston, a former director of Trod Limited, infringed the Competition Act from March 2011 to July 2015 by making an anti-competitive agreement with GB Eye Limited. The agreement detailed that both companies wouldn’t offer to sell licensed sport and entertainment posters and frames for a lower cost than the other.

This is a clear breach of fair competition rules.
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“A lack of competition in SSCP’s recent acquisition?” – CMA are investigating whether SSCP has acted anti-competitively in Acorn acquisition

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

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

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

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

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

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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