75 results Not so fast - General Court clarifies merger control test There is no magical number when it comes to “4-to-3” telecom mergers. On 28/5/2020, the EU’s General Court handed down a landmark judgment annulling a 2016 decision of the European Commission blocking the merger between O2 UK and Three. European Commission adopts merger simplification package to reduce red tape The European Commission recently adopted a package to simplify its procedures for reviewing concentrations under the EU Merger regulation. Under the new rules, more cases can benefit from the simplified procedure. 2022: the big reveal of 2021’s competition law promises 2021 was riddled with sneak previews of a “review of competition policy tools with unprecedented scope and ambition”. Gun jumping: beware, the Commission will take action The Commission has imposed interim measures on Illumina and GRAIL. These measures include the obligation to run GRAIL by independent management. Bekrachtiging Europese Klimaatwet en onthulling klimaatpakket ‘Fit for 55’ Met de bekrachtiging van de Europese Klimaatwet door het Europees Parlement en de introductie van het klimaatpakket 'Fit for 55', wordt het duidelijker hoe de weg naar een klimaatneutraal Europa er uit gaat zien. De Europese Klimaatwet uitgelicht Op 21 april 2021 is een voorlopig akkoord bereikt over de Europese Klimaatwet. Deze Klimaatwet kan worden gezien als de kern van de Europese Green Deal, die in december 2019 werd gepubliceerd door de Europese Commissie. Triple-check merger info to prevent costly fines – or worse Companies should check their merger information for accuracy, truthfulness and completeness before handing it over to the European Commission. ECJ in Pometon: beware of too much info in staggered hybrid proceedings In hybrid cartel proceedings (in which one party opts out of settlement), settlement decisions should not pre-judge the outcome of the Commission's investigation into non-settling parties. Pay-for-delay saga ends with nothing new; but pharma quest continues On 25 March 2021, the ECJ ended the Lundbeck pay-for-delay saga by dismissing the appeals from Lundbeck and five generic manufacturers against a European Commission ‘pay-for-delay’ decision. Game over? Gaming companies fined for geo-blocking The Commission’s cross-border sales crusade seems far from over. The EUR 7.8 million fine imposed on distribution platform owner Valve and five PC video games publishers for geo-blocking practices is the most recent notch in the Commission’s belt. Horizontal cooperation: from the dark side to the light? Recent enforcement action shows that companies involved in data sharing and data pooling or sustainability cooperation need to tread carefully. Game on for gatekeepers: Digital Markets Act finalised Now that political agreement has been reached on the final text, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) will enter into force soon. The DMA’s ex ante rules and obligations will apply next to the ad hoc EU and national competition rules. Employers beware: final warning for “job cartels” Only months after suspending an investigation into a possible wage-fixing cartel, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has warned employers, employers’ organisations, and trade associations to not engage in no-poach agreements. Pfizer may be off the hook, but ACM pharma supervision continues Pharma companies beware: discount schemes by former patent owners raise red flags at competition authorities. Take note(s): Qualcomm’s EUR 1 billion dominance abuse fine quashed The General Court annulled the Commission’s EUR 1 billion fine imposed on Qualcomm for abuse of dominance on the LTE chipsets market. Dust off your dawn raid manuals: the heat is (back) on Companies should brace themselves for multiple multi-jurisdictional dawn raids over the coming months. Commission’s record fine for gun jumping upheld Pre-closing covenants protecting the target’s value or commercial integrity pending merger clearance from the European Commission must be drafted carefully. Hans Van Bavel Partner Brussels Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Next page
Not so fast - General Court clarifies merger control test There is no magical number when it comes to “4-to-3” telecom mergers. On 28/5/2020, the EU’s General Court handed down a landmark judgment annulling a 2016 decision of the European Commission blocking the merger between O2 UK and Three.
European Commission adopts merger simplification package to reduce red tape The European Commission recently adopted a package to simplify its procedures for reviewing concentrations under the EU Merger regulation. Under the new rules, more cases can benefit from the simplified procedure.
2022: the big reveal of 2021’s competition law promises 2021 was riddled with sneak previews of a “review of competition policy tools with unprecedented scope and ambition”.
Gun jumping: beware, the Commission will take action The Commission has imposed interim measures on Illumina and GRAIL. These measures include the obligation to run GRAIL by independent management.
Bekrachtiging Europese Klimaatwet en onthulling klimaatpakket ‘Fit for 55’ Met de bekrachtiging van de Europese Klimaatwet door het Europees Parlement en de introductie van het klimaatpakket 'Fit for 55', wordt het duidelijker hoe de weg naar een klimaatneutraal Europa er uit gaat zien.
De Europese Klimaatwet uitgelicht Op 21 april 2021 is een voorlopig akkoord bereikt over de Europese Klimaatwet. Deze Klimaatwet kan worden gezien als de kern van de Europese Green Deal, die in december 2019 werd gepubliceerd door de Europese Commissie.
Triple-check merger info to prevent costly fines – or worse Companies should check their merger information for accuracy, truthfulness and completeness before handing it over to the European Commission.
ECJ in Pometon: beware of too much info in staggered hybrid proceedings In hybrid cartel proceedings (in which one party opts out of settlement), settlement decisions should not pre-judge the outcome of the Commission's investigation into non-settling parties.
Pay-for-delay saga ends with nothing new; but pharma quest continues On 25 March 2021, the ECJ ended the Lundbeck pay-for-delay saga by dismissing the appeals from Lundbeck and five generic manufacturers against a European Commission ‘pay-for-delay’ decision.
Game over? Gaming companies fined for geo-blocking The Commission’s cross-border sales crusade seems far from over. The EUR 7.8 million fine imposed on distribution platform owner Valve and five PC video games publishers for geo-blocking practices is the most recent notch in the Commission’s belt.
Horizontal cooperation: from the dark side to the light? Recent enforcement action shows that companies involved in data sharing and data pooling or sustainability cooperation need to tread carefully.
Game on for gatekeepers: Digital Markets Act finalised Now that political agreement has been reached on the final text, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) will enter into force soon. The DMA’s ex ante rules and obligations will apply next to the ad hoc EU and national competition rules.
Employers beware: final warning for “job cartels” Only months after suspending an investigation into a possible wage-fixing cartel, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has warned employers, employers’ organisations, and trade associations to not engage in no-poach agreements.
Pfizer may be off the hook, but ACM pharma supervision continues Pharma companies beware: discount schemes by former patent owners raise red flags at competition authorities.
Take note(s): Qualcomm’s EUR 1 billion dominance abuse fine quashed The General Court annulled the Commission’s EUR 1 billion fine imposed on Qualcomm for abuse of dominance on the LTE chipsets market.
Dust off your dawn raid manuals: the heat is (back) on Companies should brace themselves for multiple multi-jurisdictional dawn raids over the coming months.
Commission’s record fine for gun jumping upheld Pre-closing covenants protecting the target’s value or commercial integrity pending merger clearance from the European Commission must be drafted carefully.