Focus Antitrust - 28 June 2017

In The News

European Commission fines Google €2.42 billion for abusing a dominant position by favouring own comparison shopping service

The European Commission has fined Google €2.42 billion for abusing its market dominance as a search engine by giving prominent placement in search results to its own comparison shopping service and by demoting the services of its competitors. Click here.

Secretary of State issues update statement on Sky/Fox merger

The Culture Secretary, Karen Bradley, has confirmed receipt of the Ofcom and CMA reports on the proposed merger between Sky and 21st Century Fox. She is aiming to make an initial 'minded to' decision on whether to refer the merger for a phase 2 investigation by the CMA by 29 June. Click here.

European Commission fines three car lighting system producers €27 million in cartel settlement

The European Commission has fined Automotive Lighting and Hella a total of €26 744 000 for participating in an automotive lighting cartel. Valeo was not fined as it revealed the cartel to the Commission. All three companies admitted their involvement and agreed to settle. Click here.

EU

Mergers

• The European Commission has approved Evonik's acquisition of Huber Silica. The decision is conditional on the divestment of some of both companies' activities related to precipitated silica, a chemical used in tyres, toothpaste, defoamers, paints and coatings. Click here.

UK

CMA

• The CMA has announced that it considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that undertakings in lieu offered by Heineken might be acceptable to remedy the competition concerns the CMA has identified in relation to its proposed purchase of part of the Punch Taverns estate. Click here.
• The CMA has recommended that BAE Systems plc (BAES) should be released from undertakings which were given following its merger with the Marconi Electronic Systems business of General Electric Company plc in 1999. Click here.

CAA

• The CAA has closed its investigation into a suspected abuse of a dominant position in the provision of access to facilities at an airport on grounds of administrative priority. Click here.

This article was written by Paul Stone. For more information, please contact Paul on +44 (0)20 7203 5110 or at paul.stone@crsblaw.com.