Author: 21st Century Competition

Brazil/Japan: Sugar conglomerate buys out joint venture (Competition Policy International)

Brazilian sugar and ethanol operations owned by Bunge has reportedly received approval to acquire the rest of a joint venture it runs with Itochu.

Brazil’s antitrust authority CADE has cleared Japan-based Bunge to purchase the 20 percent stake in their joint venture of two cane mills currently owned by Itochu. Their …read more

Vietnam: Cross-boarder deals eyed to boost economy (Competition Policy International)

Vietnam officials are reportedly in discussions with Turkey, Hungary and other nations in hopes of encouraging cross-boarder mergers to boost the local economy.

Budapest-based IMAP MB Partners had reportedly been advising Vietnamese companies on possible deals abroad, but saw one deal between a Vietnamese and Hungarian company fall through after months …read more

Brazil: Merck fined for pay-for-delay deal (Competition Policy International)

Pharmaceutical conglomerate Merck has been issued a fine of $1.8 million by Brazilian antitrust authorities for engaging in pay-for-delay agreements.

Antitrust regulator CADE lodged the fine in response to Merck’s attendance at a meeting joined by top rivals Bayer, Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Roche and more, say …read more

China: General Motors becomes latest antitrust target (Competition Policy International)

As China continues its investigation into foreign auto companies, General Motors has confirmed that it has been contacted in the nation by antirust officials.

GM said its passenger-vehicle joint venture in the nation was contacted by the National Development and Reform Commission. That venture, Shanghai GM, is run by GM and …read more