On 22 April 2020, the UK Competition and Market Authority (“CMA”) published its guidance on ‘Merger assessments during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’ (“the guidance”). Prior to the publication of the guidance, there was some speculation about whether the
Covington Competition
The Covington View
Covington Competition, published by Covington & Burling LLP, focuses on competition law and regulatory developments within the European Union and globally. The blog covers topics such as foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regimes, antitrust enforcement including no-poach agreements and minority shareholdings, state aid frameworks supporting industrial and clean energy initiatives, and sector-specific regulatory issues like defense and technology. It analyzes trends in merger control, investment screening, and competition policy enforcement, providing insights into legal and policy intersections affecting corporate transactions, compliance, and market competition.
Latest from Covington Competition - Page 15
The European Commission launches an antitrust sector inquiry into the sector of Internet of Things for consumer-related devices and services
By Kevin Coates & Johan Ysewyn
On 16 July 2020, the European Commission (“Commission”) announced that it has launched an antitrust sector inquiry into “consumer-related products and services that are connected to a network and can be controlled at a distance, for example via a voice…
The revision of the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation – What is likely to change?
By Johan Ysewyn
Introduction
On 25 May 2020, the European Commission (“Commission”) has published its Final Report of the support studies for the evaluation of its Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (“VBER”) and the accompanying Guidelines on Vertical Restraints (the “Final Report”). The Final…
The General Court Annuls the Commission’s Decision to Block the Acquisition of Telefónica UK by Hutchison 3G UK – a Landmark Judgment for EU Merger Control?
By Johan Ysewyn
Sustainability and Competition: Covington Assists Unilever on Submission to European Competition Authorities on the Competition Implications of Sustainability Cooperation
By Johan Ysewyn & Kevin Coates
With the assistance of Covington, Unilever submitted the attached paper to the European Commission and a number of National Competition Authorities. It suggests a possible framework for the application of EU competition law to sustainability collaborations between competitors.
The paper…
European Commission Adopts Measures Aimed at Mitigating the Effects of COVID-19 in the Agri-Food Sector
By Johan Ysewyn
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the European Commission (“EC”) is taking steps to stabilise the most affected sectors of the economy. As part of its efforts, the EC has announced its support for the agricultural and food sectors…
The UK Court of Appeal Clarifies the Legal Test for Excessive Pricing
Under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (“TFEU”), an undertaking may abuse its dominant position by “directly or indirectly imposing unfair purchase or selling prices”. The UK Court of Appeal recently provided guidance regarding…
European Commission Goes “Live” on FDI Coordination Six Months Early, Proposing Cooperation on an Informal and Voluntary Basis
The European Commission has added to its call to Member States to act on foreign direct investment (“FDI”) by announcing that it is ready to support EU-level cooperation on FDI now. Spurred on by the COVID-19 crisis and the perceived…
“No Issues” with Member State Participations – State-backed EU Companies as the New Normal?
With a remarkable statement in an interview with the Financial Times published on 12 April 2020, the Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager in charge of Competition was cited to have declared that the Commission has “no issues” with EU Member…
Vestager outlines portfolio plans in European Parliament confirmation hearing
By Johan Ysewyn & Kevin Coates
After her confirmation hearing in front of the European Parliament on Tuesday 8 October, Magrethe Vestager looks certain to remain as Competition Commissioner for a second term and to combine that with a broader responsibility for digital policy development. Both…