Author: 21st Century Competition

Antitrust & Associations: Two Association Related Output Restriction Cases – One Settling (Doctors), the Other Starting Up (Eggs) (Canadian Competition and Regulatory Law)

May 28, 2014

On my media sweep earlier, two interesting trade association cases caught my eye, both including allegations of “output restriction” or “boycott” type activities.

In one case, involving the Irish Medical Organisation (“IMO”), the Irish Competition Authority (the “Competition Authority”) announced that the IMO had provided <a target=_self …read more

New Zealand: Claims mount against construction group for unfair incentive deals (Competition Policy International)

A rival maker of building supplies has filed a complaint with New Zealand’s Commerce Commission alleging Winstone Wallboards is offering unfair incentives to suppliers for not stalking competitors’ products.

According to reports, Elephant Plasterboard claims Winstone is unfairly squeezing its rivals out of the market by offering rewards to merchants for …read more

Ireland: Medical group resolves collective agreement competition spat (Competition Policy International)

The Irish Medical Organization has reportedly settled with the Competition Authority in court, ending a dispute regarding the negotiation of collective agreements of self-employed IMO members.

According to reports, the Competition Authority sued the health group last July for allowing self-employed members to join forces to collectively negotiate payment, a violation …read more

UK: Smith & Nephew merger cleared, rumors of Stryker deal shot down (Competition Policy International)

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has offered clearance to the proposed acquisition of AthroCare by Smith & Nephew, reports say, marking the final hurdle cleared in the parties’ efforts to finalize the deal.

The CMA concluded its Phase I investigation of the $1.7 billion medical technology merger. The companies had …read more