Author: 21st Century Competition

Germany: State bank fulfills bailout deal with divestiture (Competition Policy International)

Bayerische Landesbank will sell its Hungarian operations, MKB Bank, to the Hungarian government. In return, BayernLB will receive $74 million. MKB will also be absolved of millions of dollars worth of loans it owes to BayernLB.

According to reports, its Hungarian unit cost the company billions of dollars since 1994, when …read more

Canada: Supreme Court shuns real estate competition spat (Competition Policy International)

Canada’s Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal requested by the Toronto Real Estate Board of an earlier ruling that reports say could renew arguments that the Board abuses its market dominance.

According to repots, the TREB won its initial case, but a court ordered a second hearing of the …read more

Brazil: With debt woes, Oi seen as weakest link (Competition Policy International)

After Oi announced that certain debts from takeover target Portugal Telecom were not disclosed until after the two wireless operators merged, authorities in Brazil now consider Oi to be the weakest player in the industry and are eying the company for a possible breakup.

According to reports, telecommunications authority Anatel considers …read more

UK: CMA agrees to Big Six energy probe (Competition Policy International)

On the recommendation of energy watchdog Ofgem, the Competition and Markets Authority announced it will conduct an investigation of the energy industry and examine whether the so-called Big Six leading electricity companies are abusing their market power.

According to reports, the CMA will publish its findings by the end of next …read more