The Belgian based news company De Persgroep in July 2014 requested a clearance from the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (“ACM”) for a concentration with its rival, London-listed newspaper publishing group, Mecom Group. Based on article 34 of the Mededingingswet (Dutch Competition Law Regulation) #dutchcompetitionlawregulation #medialaw #eucompetitionlaw #eucompetitionlawyerteam #competitionlaw

The purchase by Facebook (USA) of the mobile messaging service WhatsApp (USA) is reviewed by the European Commission under the full Form CO (Case M.7217). The European Commission should decide in October 2014 whether or not to open the in-depth investigation. The deal has very high chances to be conditionally cleared. Currently any interested third party may intervene in the review and submit its observations/concerns on the transaction. #eucompetitionlawyerteam #eucompetitio

Belgium’s Competition Authority has adopted new guidelines for the calculation of fines in antitrust cases to bring it in line with the European Commission’s standards. The guidelines will become effective as of 1 November 2014. As a result, companies will be sanctioned using the EU methodology regardless of whether the investigation was conducted by the European Commission or the Belgian competition Authority. Competition law infringements in Belgium as of 1 November will be

The European Commission’s formal opinion dated 5.05.2014 in application of Article 15(1) of Regulation (EC) 1/2003 (“Formal opinion”), provides some guidance for the private parties and for the national courts on the access to information/documents gathered during the European Commission’s antitrust investigation. Disclosure of such information/documents is a controversial issue in any action for damages. Legal framework Article 15(1) of Regulation No 1/2003 provides that in

Competition Commission of Switzerland (“Comco”) in end of July 2014 imposed a fine of Euro 1.5 million on a Swiss news agency Schweizerische Depeschenagentur (“SDA”) after a two-year investigation of its exclusivity agreements. Nature of offence SDA is a dominant undertaking in the Swiss marker for news agency. It was held to breach the Swiss competition law by granting illegal exclusive rebates for its news subscriptions to certain customers on condition that such media comp

European Commission adopts proposal to strengthen shareholder engagement for Europe’s largest companies In April 2014 the European Commission adopted proposal on measures to improve the corporate governance of approximately 10.000 companies listed on Europe’s stock exchange. The proposal would enhance the long-term sustainability of these 10.000 companies. In addition, it would provide hand-reach solutions for Single Member Companies (SME’s) in order to operate cross-border m

REVISED DE MINIMIS NOTICE SUMMARY: The revised Notice on agreements of minor importance, which do not appreciably restrict competition (“De Minimis Notice”) was adopted by the European Commission (“EC”) on 25 June 2014. The De Minimis Notice excludes certain practices and arrangements between the companies from the general EU law prohibition of anti-competitive agreements under Article 101(1) of Treaty on Functioning of the EU (“TFEU”) depending of the market power of the com