Author: 21st Century Competition

Finland: Relationship sours between top dairy firm, competition regulator (Competition Policy International)

Finland’s largest dairy company Valio remains at odds with the nation’s Competition and Consumer Authority after years of disagreements over Valio business practices reached its peak this week.

The regulator published an op-ed article on its website following its decision last month that found Valio guilty of abusing is market dominance. …read more

Spain: Europe approves Vodafone’s Ono buy (Competition Policy International)

The European Commission announced Wednesday that it will allow top UK wireless operator Vodafone to acquire Spain’s leading cable firm Ono in a $9.79 million deal.

In a statement, the Commission said it has approved of the deal without concessions. The news confirmed earlier reports that the transaction would gain unconditional …read more

EU: Commission widens rules against anticompetitive behavior (Competition Policy International)

The European Commission announced that it is extending the scope of prohibited anticompetitive behavior to include practices that result in even minor impacts to the market, reports say.

In a de minimis notice, the Commission prohibited certain hardcore anticompetitive behaviors, including price-fixing and market allocation, even if the impact of those …read more

Germany/UK: Adidas cleared in one case, implicated in another (Competition Policy International)

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office announced Wednesday that it has closed its antitrust investigation into sportswear maker Adidas.

Reports say the company was under fire for refusing to sell its products on certain online marketplaces. German officials said Adidas has agreed to have its products sold on those sites now, leading to …read more