Tag: competition law

Provisional finding in the CMA roofing materials investigation

There’s been a provisional finding in the CMA roofing materials investigation that was launched in the summer of 2017, with three major suppliers alleged to be in a cartel.

The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) believes that the three alleged cartel companies have been allocating customers, as well as information sharing and colluding on price. This type of behaviour usually only leads to one thing: bigger profits for the companies, and higher costs for the consumer.

An allegation of a cartel finding is incredibly serious, and the companies at the heart of this investigation could be issued significant fines that can run into the millions.

Suspected anti-competitive agreements in the musical instruments sector

First published by Author on May 02, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with cma | competition law | investigations | musical instruments

Regulators have opened investigations into the musical instruments sector on the basis that there may be anti-competitive agreements that can be detrimental to the consumer.

The investigation has been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) who are the UK’s primary watchdog when it comes to enforcing healthy competition. Anti-competitive agreements that result in cartels, price fixing, and other forms of collusion can be damaging to the consumer. Profits can be inflated for the businesses, and the consumer can end up paying more; which is the opposite to what healthy competition should ensure.

It’s therefore within the public’s interests for suspected anti-competitive agreements to be thoroughly investigated. If the consumer is being ripped off, the companies involved in the behaviour must be punished.

Antivirus software competition investigation

First published by Author on April 18, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with cma | competition law | investigations

An antivirus software competition investigation has been launched by the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) in the last few months.

What’s interesting about this case is that it was launched as part of the wider reviews following the loyalty penalty super complaint initiated by Citizens Advice. The loyalty penalty super complaint could trigger a number of reviews across a wide range of market sectors.

If it’s all in the name of improving competition and enforcing compliance of the vital regulations that we have in place to protect consumers, we’re all for it.

Further action set for the CMA’s secondary ticketing and Viagogo case?

First published by Author on April 10, 2019 in the following categories: Investigations Latest and tagged with advertising | cma | competition law | investigations

There’s more news in the Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) secondary ticketing and Viagogo case. And it could be huge.

You may recall that we’ve been tracking this case for a while now. At the start of 2019, a Viagogo, StubHub and Ticketmaster were all required to undertake serious changes to their business behaviour. This came in to effect as of midnight on 17^th January 2019.

However, the CMA conducted some simple checks on 24^th January 2019. They say that they found that Viagogo had failed to comply with the court order against them. Now, Viagogo is potentially facing further legal action for contempt of court.

Court upholds ruling in galvanised steel tanks cartel investigations

First published by Author on March 21, 2019 in the following categories: Cartels Investigations Price Fixing Pricing and tagged with cartels | cma | competition law | price fixing | pricing

The Court of Appeal has upheld a previous ruling obtained by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) that’s related to the galvanised steel tanks cartel case.

Supplier Balmoral Tanks were fined £130,000.00 for exchanging competitively-sensitive information with competitors, despite refusing to engage in the main cartel they’d been invited to join. They’d tried to have the ruling overturned in 2017, which failed, and we’re glad to see the Court of Appeal has upheld the initial rulings.

The galvanised steel tanks cartel case has been a huge, long-running investigation involving the CMA. Although Balmoral were not a part of the main cartel, they still infringed vital competition law.

Latest in the statutory audit market study

First published by Author on March 14, 2019 in the following categories: Incentives Industry Investigations Latest and tagged with cma | competition law | investigations

The statutory audit market study was launched in October 2018, and we’re set to know more about the outcomes toward the end of this year.

This is a key market sector where the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has raised a number of concerns that they’re looking into. Despite previous improvements in the sector that appear to have strengthened competition, Deloitte, E&Y, KPMG and PwC reportedly remain the “go-to” auditors for the majority of large companies.

There’s also a concern as to whether there’s a lack of incentive to produce challenging reviews in terms of the performance of the companies as well.

Online hotel booking investigation update

Here’s the latest in the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) online hotel booking investigation that has been focused on consumer law compliance.

The initial investigation was launched back in October 2017, with enforcement action taken in June 2018. It’s an important one given the breadth of the online hotel booking market, and how confusing it can be. Competition in this key sector should always be healthy, and any infringements of the law cannot go unpunished.

We’re pleased to see that the latest developments in the online hotel booking investigation has seen undertakings agreed by numerous parties involved.

Brief update in the hypothyroidism tablets competition case

A brief update has been issued in the hypothyroidism tablets competition case surrounding alleged overcharging of liothyronine medication.

The liothyronine tablets are used to treat people lacking in thyroid hormones, which can lead to tiredness, slow metabolism, depression and other ailments. The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) spent a great deal of time in 2017 gathering evidence for the case. In November 2017, a statement of objections was formally issued.

Last month, an updated statement of objections was issued by the CMA in this incredibly important investigation.

Crackdown after social media influencer investigation

First published by Author on February 08, 2019 in the following categories: Incentives Investigations Latest Selling Restrictions and tagged with advertising | cma | competition law | incentives | investigations

A crackdown has been launched after a social media influencer investigation raised concerns that some product endorsements may be breaching vital competition law.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reportedly written to a number of high-profile celebrities about their social media influencing habits. As a result of the warning letters, some social medial influencers have promised to clearly state if they’re being rewarded for endorsing products. Among those who have made the formal commitments are singers Rita Ora and Ellie Goulding.

We welcome this move and the cooperation of those involved so far.

Pharmaceutical competition investigation extended

First published by Author on February 01, 2019 in the following categories: Industry Investigations and tagged with cma | competition law | market study | Pharmaceuticals | pricing

The pharmaceutical competition investigation has had a key deadline extended this month. The time being allowed for the analysis of information has been moved.

The ongoing pharmaceutical competition investigation is an important one. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into potential breaches of important competition law. Specifically, they’re looking at two different generic pharmaceutical drugs and whether there are illegal anti-competitive agreements and conduct in place.

This is an important sector when it comes to healthy competition. Any breaches need to be severely punished.