Utility companies face fines for non-compliance with the mandatory merger control

Two Danish utility companies have received fines of DKK 8 million in total for implementing a notifiable merger in 2012 without filing the compulsory merger notification. The case is an obvious reminder of how important it is to focus on competition rules in connection with mergers, acquisitions, sell-offs, joint ventures and similar transactions – also within the utility sector. (more…)

Dutch fines more than doubled as of 2017

On 22 December, the Dutch Parliament approved a legislative amendment as a result of which the maximum personal fines that can be imposed following violations of the Competition Act (and also of similar acts such as the Postal Act, the Telecommunications Act, the Railway Act, the Passenger Transportation Act and the Gas and Electricity Act) are tremendously increased: (more…)

French Competition Authority, 15 December 2015: Delivery service (transporting parcels) industry

The Autorité de la concurrence issues a decision concerning a case which has been brought to its attention through the leniency procedure. The Autorité principally fines 20 delivery service companies for coordinating on annual price increases that they charged their respective clients. This information sharing process, which occurred between September 2004 and September 2010, mainly took place during meetings held within the framework of a professional trade union body (TLF) which has also been fined. (more…)