Focus Antitrust - 5 July 2017

In The News

Fox/Sky merger may face referral on public interest grounds

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has announced that she is minded to refer Fox's proposed acquisition of Sky for a phase 2 investigation on the grounds of media plurality. Click here.

Tesco/Booker request fast track merger referral

Tesco and Booker have requested that the CMA make a fast track referral to phase 2 in its investigation into their merger. Click here.

CMA accepts commitments offered to address online auction concerns

The CMA has accepted final commitments offered by ATG Media, a provider of live online bidding platforms in the UK. ATG Media has committed for a period of five years not to engage in certain practices, which the CMA considered may prevent or discourage its customers from using rival platforms. Click here.

EU

Articles 101 and 102

• The European Commission has confirmed that on 4 July 2017 its officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of companies active in motor insurance in the Republic of Ireland. Click here.

Mergers

• The European Commission has approved the acquisition of Magnesita Refratários by RHI. The decision is conditional on the divestment of the two companies' overlapping businesses in relation to specific refractory product markets in the EEA. Click here.

UK

CMA

• The CMA has announced that it considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that undertakings in lieu offered by Electro Rent Corporation in relation to its completed acquisition of Test Equipment Asset Management and Microlease Inc might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002. Click here.
• The CMA is proposing to amend undertakings agreed with NHBC in 1995 following an investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. 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.