Focus Antitrust - 30 January 2019

In The News

CMA proposing to refer Tobii’s acquisition of Smartbox  

The CMA is proposing to refer Tobii’s acquisition of Smartbox for a phase 2 investigation unless the parties offer suitable undertakings in lieu.  The CMA is concerned that the merger may lead to less choice, higher prices and reduced innovation for customers of augmentative and assistive communication solutions.  Click here.

Court of Appeal finds no restriction by object in relation to online estate agents portal 

The Court of Appeal has ruled that membership rules of an online estate agents portal are not restrictive of competition by object.  The Court of Appeal has therefore dismissed the appeal by Gascoigne Halman which challenged this finding by the Competition Appeal Tribunal in relation to the rules underlying membership of Agents' Mutual's online estate agents portal.  Click here.

CMA issues supplementary statement of objections in Liothyronine tablets excessive pricing investigation 

The CMA has issued a supplementary statement of objections in its Liothyronine tablets excessive pricing investigation, altering the period during which it has provisionally found that Advanz Pharma (formerly Concordia) breached UK and EU competition law from at least 1 January 2009 to at least 31 July 2017. Click here. 

UK

CMA

• The CMA has published its final report in relation to the completed acquisition by Rentokil Initial plc of Cannon Hygiene Limited following a phase 2 investigation. To offset the loss of competition resulting from the merger, the CMA has decided Rentokil / Cannon must sell all contracts with customers that have premises nationally and across multiple regions, who were serviced by Cannon prior to the merger. Click here.
• The CMA has published draft guidance in relation to its mergers, antitrust and consumer protection functions in the event of a ‘no deal’ EU Exit. Click here.

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