In the News

The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, has decided to refer the proposed acquisition by News Corporation of the whole of BSkyB to the Competition Commission for in-depth investigation of whether the merger operates against the public interest with regard to the media plurality public interest consideration. Click here.

The General Court has delivered its judgments in four appeals brought against the European Commission's gas insulated switchgear cartel decision. The fines imposed on Mitsubishi and Toshiba have been annulled and the fine imposed on Fuji has been reduced from EUR2.4 million to EUR2.2 million. The Court has, however, dismissed the appeal brought by Hitachi. Click here.

EU

European Commission

  • The European Commission has published its Annual Report on Competition Policy 2010. Click here.
  • The European Commission published the results of the latest survey conducted by Eurobarometer of households across the EU about their use of communications services. Click here.

Mergers – Cleared

Mergers – Invitation to Comment

State Aid

  • Details of an appeal lodged by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) against a General Court ruling that national measures to prevent exclusive broadcast of Football World Cup and European Championship did not constitute the grant of special or exclusive rights to free-to-air broadcasters within the meaning of Article 106(1) TFEU and do not breach EU law have been published in the Official Journal. Click here.

Speeches

  • Joaquín Almunia: "Competition Policy Competition policy in 2010 and the SGEI reform". Click here.
  • Viviane Reding: "Collective Redress: Examining the way forward". Click here.

UK

UK Courts

  • The Supreme Court has refused permission for Enron Coal Services Limited (ECSL) to appeal against a judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed ECSL's appeal against the Competition Appeal Tribunal's finding that ECSL had not demonstrated sufficient causation to claim damages from English Welsh & Scottish Railway Limited. Click here.

Competition Commission

  • The Competition Commission has published an issues statement as part of its investigation into the anticipated acquisition by BATS Trading of Chi-X Europe. Click here.

CAT

  • The CAT has granted Deutsche Bahn and others permission to appeal against its judgment that their damages action brought under section 47A of the Competition Act 1998 against Morgan Crucible had been brought out of time and so should be struck out. Click here.

OFT

  • The OFT has published its Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11 . Click here.
  • Mergers – invitation to comment: Tramlink Nottingham/NET Line One/NET Phase Two; AB Agri Limited/ Uffculme Feed Mill. Click here.
  • Mergers – referred to the Competition Commission: Kerry Foods/Headland Foods, click here.
  • Mergers – cleared: Virgin Active Holdings Limited/Esporta Racquets and Non- Racquets Holdings Limited; Kingfisher/Focus. Click here;
  • Mergers – undertakings in lieu: Unilever/Alberto Culver. Click here.
  • Mergers – full text decisions: Silos/CleanCrop, click here; EADS/Vector Aerospace, click here;

Other

  • Ofcom has published its annual report and accounts for the year ending 31 March 2011. Click here.

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