On 2 September 2020, the US Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DoJ), the US Federal Trade Commission, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the New Zealand Competition Commission, and the Canadian Competition Bureau signed a framework agreement to improve cooperation in competition investigations.
Topics
JD Sports Fashion plc v Competition and Markets Authority
By Cleary Gottlieb on
On 1 September 2020, JD Sports Fashion and Pentland Group Limited filed an appeal against a CMA decision of 29 July 2020 to impose a penalty of £300,000 on the parties for failing to comply with the requirements of the CMA’s initial enforcement order issued in the context of the completed acquisition by JD Sports of Footasylum plc.
Roland (U.K.) Limited and Another v Competition and Markets Authority
By Cleary Gottlieb on
On 1 September 2020, the CAT published an application by Roland (UK) Limited and Roland Corporation (together, Roland) against the level of the fine imposed by the CMA in its decision of 29 June 2020 finding that Roland had engaged in unlawful resale price maintenance (RPM).
Update on DG COMP’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Cleary Gottlieb on
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic disruption, as a consequence of the prolonged and re-occurring shutdowns and the ongoing political and economic uncertainties.
First Merger Control Prohibition Decision Issued by the French Competition Authority
By Cleary Gottlieb on
On August 28, 2020, the FCA prohibited for the first time a proposed transaction following an in-depth Phase 2 review.[1] The FCA concluded that Soditroy and the E. Leclerc’s proposed acquisition of joint control over a Géant Casino hypermarket around the city of Troyes raised serious competition concerns.
Lexon (UK) Limited v Competition and Markets Authority
By Cleary Gottlieb on
On 27 August 2020, the CMA applied for a director disqualification order against Mr. Pritesh Sonpal in connection with its decision to fine the company of which he is a director, Lexon, for exchanging commercially sensitive information about Nortriptyline Tablets with two other companies.
Unwired Planet International Ltd and another v Huawei Technologies (UK) Co Ltd and another
By Cleary Gottlieb on
2020, the UK Supreme Court issued its judgment in a standard-essential patent (SEP) dispute between Huawei and Unwired Planet (see full alert memorandum).
National Grid Electricity Transmission plc v ABB Ltd and Others
By Cleary Gottlieb on
On 24 August 2020, Safran SA, a French technology group, entered into a deed of settlement with National Grid Electricity…
Preventx v. Royal Mail Group
By Cleary Gottlieb on
On 20 August 2020, the High Court ordered an interim injunction against Royal Mail Group in favour of Preventx, a provider of remote diagnostic testing services and clinical referral services for sexually transmitted diseases (STIs).
The Commission Approves Mastercard’s Acquisition of Nets’ Account-to-Account Payments Business Subject to Remedies
By Cleary Gottlieb on
On August 17, 2020, the Commission conditionally approved Mastercard’s acquisition of Nets’ payment application division, following a Phase I review (“the Transaction”).[1] The Commission reviewed the Transaction following a referral by the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority, and ultimately identified competitive concerns in an EEA-wide market for account-to-account core infrastructure services (“A2A CIS”) in relation to managed solutions that required the transfer of the overlapping business to secure Phase I approval.