A blog about the intersection of antitrust, foreign investment control, politics, and everything in between
With the summer holidays having officially taken off, one of the peak business times of many industries has started as well. One of these industries is not only the centre of attention for many travellers, but also of many regulators: the airline industry. So, time for a ´seasonal´ topic – recent airline merger cases and … Continue reading Lessons to learn from airline mergers
The European Football Championship is in full swing. The whole of Europe is following the exciting matches – either at public viewings or in front of the TV at home. Euphoria is spreading across the continent. The mood could hardly be better. Just the right time, the German Federal Cartel Office must have thought, to … Continue reading There are still fines for resale price maintenance?!
When conducting dawn raid trainings, you will already be pleased if participants leave the session remembering one key point: Do not destroy any documents or delete data after the dawn raid has started. Whilst the days of secretaries running to the shredder to destroy incriminating evidence might be over (not only for antitrust reasons), the … Continue reading On new paths: Record fine for deleting messages on a mobile phone
This week, the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) unconditionally cleared the acquisition of Olink by Thermo Fisher after an in-depth review of the case. While the parties and lawyers involved might be (well-deservedly) popping champagne corks, I would like to use this case to highlight some trends in German merger control (and beyond). What is … Continue reading An exception or the first of many?
The world of standard essential patents (SEPs) is a hotbed of legal disputes, especially in the automotive industry. The German Federal Cartel Office's recent decision regarding the "Automotive Licensing Negotiation Group" could have widespread implications. This decision marks a turning point, providing collective bargaining power to licensees. However, its global and long-term impact remains uncertain.
When hearing the word ´fine´ in an antitrust context, one usually thinks of cartels. However, fines can also be imposed when infringing procedural obligations, e.g., in merger control proceedings. While fines for gun jumping are more prominent in merger control (see here), there is also a history of fines for not telling the truth (or … Continue reading Under the magnifying glass: Why telling the truth in merger control is so important
Almost exactly five years ago, following the prohibition of Siemens/Alstom by the European Commission, the French and German economy ministers published a joint paper in which they complained that European merger control rules would prevent the emergence of European champions. However, in their opinion such champions were necessary to compete against American and Chinese companies … Continue reading The Return of the European Champion?
The digital sector has been high on the European Commission's antitrust enforcement agenda recently, as evidenced by the legislative changes undertaken in recent years and expansive enforcement actions. Video games existed long before the regulation of digital companies was even considered. But the motivation of the authorities to cast the net as wide as possible … Continue reading Polish Competition Authority launches probe into gaming sector
Co-authored by Marcel Döhren In times of economic turmoil and disruption, Germany, and other countries across the globe, face an increasing number of insolvencies. With a company’s existence at stake, timely investments are often vital to saving a company in financial trouble. Foreign investment control adds to the complexity of insolvency proceedings. Below, we provide … Continue reading Foreign investment control in insolvency proceedings – some things to keep in mind
The fact that labour markets are currently in the focus of many antitrust regulators is a widespread secret in the antitrust community. Although the European Commission has not yet adopted a decision concerning self-standing labour market agreements, there are indications that the first decision is just around the corner. The latest indication: A Competition Policy … Continue reading It´s heating up: EC´s focus on labour markets
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