In most cases, mergers that raise competition problems are not prohibited but approved on condition that the parties remove the anti-competitive effects through remedies. This contribution examines the European Commission's merger remedies practice

This case note analyses and comments on the European Commission's decision to approve the acquisition of Omnova by Synthomer. Both companies are major producers of so-called specialty chemicals.The Commission cleared the acquisition in Phase I, after the parties offered remedies to address the...

In May 2020, the General Court rendered its long-awaited judgment in the UK mobile merger case. At issue in this case was whether the Commission lawfully prohibited the acquisition by Hutchison of O2 (Telefónica UK) back in 2016. That deal would have reduced the number of mobile network...

Remedies are central to understanding EU merger control. They come in many variations - from massive divestitures paving the way for deals such as Bayer / Monsanto to intricate interoperability remedies in cases such as Google / Fitbit - but they all share the same goal: ensuring that mergers do...

The note summarizes and comments on the European Commission's decision to approve Google's acquisition of Fitbit, a maker of fitness trackers and smartwatches. The Commission approved the deal in December 2020, but made long-lasting behavioural remedies binding on Google.The case raises...

This paper challenges the classical view on the role of litigation in Japan by examining a particular type of litigation, namely private antitrust litigation. It shows that the widely held idea that antitrust litigation in Japan is rare only holds when compared to the US, not Europe. The...

Japan’s engagement with international models of competition law has been decidedly ambiguous and counter-cyclical with its economic performance. During times of prolonged economic growth, Japan’s attitude to Western styles of competition regulation has been predominantly skeptical, if not...

This document contains excerpts from the book Private Antitrust Litigation in the European Union and Japan – A Comparative Perspective (Maklu Publishers, February 2013). The book contains the following chapters:IntroductionPart I - Private Antitrust Litigation in Japan Chapter 1: Historical...

Private enforcement of competition law in Germany and the Netherlands is booming. A surge in cartel damages actions has led to a flurry of judicial activity, while claim vehicles and claim funders continue to bring and fund new cases. At the same time, both jurisdictions also face significant...