On 10 September 2019 the UK Government published the text of a second Competition Brexit SI, the Competition (Amendment etc.)(EU Exit)(No2) Regulations 2019 (the new Regulations) which make a number of changes to the original Competition (Amendment etc.)(EU Exit) Regulation 2019 (the principal Regulations). The principal Regulations are discussed in an earlier blog post here. … Read more
On 6 August 2019 the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published an unwinding order requiring the reversal of post-completion integration steps taken in the completed acquisition by Bottomline Technologies Limited (Bottomline UK) of Experian Limited’s Experian Payments Gateway business (the EPG business). The order is intended to restore the market position to what it … Read more
On 16 August 2019 the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) ruled that a public interest intervention notice (PIIN) issued by the then Secretary of State for digital, culture, medial and sport (DCMS) into two newspaper mergers was issued in time, but that the time limit for the Secretary of State to make a reference for an … Read more
There has been a flurry of transactional activity in the UK defence sector over the last week. These deals, and the public interest considerations they raise, will test the UK’s current approach to reviewing foreign investment in sensitive sectors. The acquisition of Rheinmetall Defence by BAE Systems: on 19 July 2019, the CMA published its … Read more
On 10th May 2019 the CMA secured the disqualification of three former directors of companies involved in a bid rigging cartel in the design, construction and fit-out services sector. The three directors have given legally binding disqualification undertakings under which they will be banned from acting as directors or being involved in the management of … Read more
In its judgment of 16 April 2019 the Court of Appeal overturned the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s (CAT) decision refusing certification in the MasterCard collective action claim and remitted the case back to the CAT for a re hearing. The CAT’s refusal to certify the claim and grant a Collective Proceedings Order (CPO) had been based … Read more
On 11 February 2019 the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) upheld the CMA’s first infringement decision for breach of an interim order imposed on a completed merger under investigation. Electro Rent had served a break notice on the lease of its UK premises without first seeking the CMA’s consent and was fined £100,000 in June 2018. … Read more
The FCA has announced its first decision under its competition enforcement powers, finding three asset management firms have breached competition law. The decision follows a statement of objections issued to Artemis Investment Management LLP (Artemis), Newton Investment Management Limited (Newton), Hargreave Hale Ltd, and River and Mercantile Asset Management LLP (RAMAM) in November 2017 alleging breaches of competition law. … Read more
