Our Competition and Market Regulation articles are listed below:
18 June 2008
Competition and Market Regulation Update June 2008
In this month’s Competition and Market Regulation Update we explore the latest news including the intriguing developments in the alleged ‘air cargo cartel’, the Federal Court’s clarification on meaning of ‘in trade or commerce’ for professional associations, the introduction of a Bill for national FuelWatch scheme and insights into the United Kingdom’s groceries market investigation.
12 February 2008
ACCC releases draft new merger guidelines for consultation
The much anticipated draft new merger guidelines were released by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for public comment on Friday. The draft guidelines outline the principles used by the ACCC to analyse the competitive effects of mergers and acquisitions.
08 August 2007
Competition and Market Regulation Update August 2007
In this month's Competition and Market Regulation Update, we explore the latest news including the ACCC's attack on Google in court, the continuing crackdown on air-conditioning cartels, and we look at the South Australian surgeons who have received a combined $110,000 in penalties for price fixing.
08 August 2007
Competition and Market Regulation Update August 2007
In this month's Competition and Market Regulation Update, we explore the latest news including the ACCC's attack on Google in court, the continuing crackdown on air-conditioning cartels, and we look at the South Australian surgeons who have received a combined $110,000 in penalties for price fixing.
11 July 2007
Competition and Market Regulation Update July 2007
In this month's Competition and Market Regulation Update, we explore the latest news including the ACCC inquiry underway on petrol prices, and anti-dumping undertakings in OneSteel/Smorgon merger.
20 June 2007
Small business reforms to the Trade Practices Act
A Bill to amend the Trade Practices Act 1974 was tabled in the House of Representatives today.
15 June 2007
The Leahy petrol pricing decision: The curious incident of the dog in the night-time (with apologies to Conan Doyle)
On 29 May 2007 the Federal Court dismissed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s prosecution of eight Geelong petrol retailers for fixing petrol prices: ACCC v Leahy Petroleum. The press have suggested this decision is a massive blow to the Commission’s ability to police cartel conduct.
12 June 2007
€273 million fine difficult to swallow for beer cartel — cartels beware!
In news from the European Commission’s competition section that is sure to have beer-lovers cringing, some of the EU’s largest brewers have been given massive fines for engaging in cartel behaviour.
12 June 2007
Australian Competition Tribunal disagrees with Telstra pricing and broadband debate rages
The Australian Competition Tribunal has supported the ACCC in its decision of 25 August 2006 to reject undertakings provided by Telstra with respect to the wholesale pricing for the copper network that connects the customer to Telstra exchanges.
12 June 2007
ACCC loses petrol price-fixing case
The ACCC’s cartel crackdown was handed a severe blow when a Federal Court judge dismissed allegations of price fixing in the Geelong petrol market.
12 June 2007
US Supreme Court heightens pleading requirements for antitrust violations
The US Supreme Court handed down its much awaited decision in Bell Atlantic Corp v Twombly on 21 May 2007, heightening the pleading requirements for agreements in restraint of trade under section 1 of the Sherman Act.
12 June 2007
Competition and Market Regulation Update June 2007
In this month's Competition and Market Regulation Update, we explore the latest news including the ACCC's loss in petrol price-fixing case, and look at the general mergers, acquisitions and takeovers updates.
12 June 2007
Mergers, acquisitions and takeovers update
In this article, we look at the ACCC's response to the proposed acquisition of Blockbuster by Video Ezy, and explore other general developments in mergers, acquisitions and takeovers.
12 June 2007
Government intends to tackle predatory pricing
In the lead up to the federal election, the government has placed big businesses engaging in predatory pricing within its sights, with proposed amendments to section 46 of the Trade Practices Act to be introduced into parliament.
12 June 2007
ACCC begins criminal proceedings for false information under section 155
The ACCC has commenced criminal proceedings in the Federal Court against Mr John Patrick Neville for allegedly providing false and misleading evidence in the course of an investigation into collusive activity between a group of real estate agents.
16 May 2007
A current overview of the ACCC for foreign lawyers and clients
Freehills partner, Bob Baxt, contributed the Australian chapter to The Handbook of Competition Enforcement Agencies, which was successfully launched at the American Bar Association's Antitrust Spring Meeting in Washington DC in April, 2007.
11 May 2007
Energy
On 13 April 2007, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) met to discuss various issues, including energy reform.
11 May 2007
Coles — private equity 'lock-ups' come under focus
The Coles sale process continues to attract considerable public interest. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been keeping a watchful eye on the process, particularly private equity ‘lock-ups’.
11 May 2007
Competition and Market Regulation Update May 2007
In this month's Competition and Market Regulation Update we explore developments in the Coles sales process; the Fairfax / Rural Press merger advances after consent by the ACCC; and we look at the ACCC's approval of the Toll split.
11 May 2007
Authorisation for Motor Trades Association and GPs
The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to authorise the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA) ‘real times guide’ to smash repairers and providers of motor vehicle insurance.
