Antitrust

Taking initiative: ACM catches transaction ahead of new powers

M&A transactions falling below the merger notification thresholds are not necessarily exempt from scrutiny. Companies should therefore carefully assess the potential competitive impact of their transactions, as the ACM has proven to be vigilant.

Mira Deweerdt

Junior Associate Brussels

EU Court of Justice ruled on the statute of limitation and scope of applicability of the Damages Directive in Heureka vs. Google

In a judgment of 18 April 2024, the European Court of Justice (“CJEU”) ruled on preliminary questions of the City Court of Prague concerning a damages claim lodged against Google by comparison shopping service provider Heureka.

Digital antitrust conduct: too elusive to catch?

The ink on the Digital Market Act has barely dried, but fast-evolving digital developments already have competition authorities calling for new tools. Is Big Tech not kept in check by the DMA, the antitrust rules and the EU Merger Regulation after all?

District Court ruled on the recognition of the res judicata effect of a Turkish judgment and dismissed an antitrust follow on damages claim regarding the cathode-ray tube markets

The District Court of Oost-Brabant recognized the res judicata effect of a Turkish court of appeal judgment, in which the Turkish court had dismissed antitrust damages claims brought by Vestel against Philips, Samsung, LGE, Technicolor, TTD and TDP.

Court of Appeal of The Hague rules on liability for antitrust follow on damages claims in the elevator sector

In a judgment of 23 January 2024 (case no. 200.304.621 and 200.304.673), the Court of Appeal ruled that elevator manufacturer Kone can be held liable for damages alleged by 23 parties that combined their claims in a litigation vehicle.

Elisabeth Gabizon

Junior Associate Brussels

Dawn raid drama: bycatch and data rooms

Beware of the fine line in antitrust investigations between illegal fishing expeditions and accidental discoveries pointing at a separate antitrust infringement.

Stibbe Brussels reinforces Public Law and EU/Competition Law practices with two Counsel appointments

Stibbe Brussels has promoted Sophie Adriaenssen to Counsel in its Public Law practice group and has welcomed Quentin Declève as Counsel in its EU/Competition Law practice. The appointments are effective as per 1 January 2023.

Stibbe Bruxelles renforce ses pratiques en droit public et en droit de l'UE/de la concurrence par la nomination de deux Counsel

Le bureau bruxellois de Stibbe a nommé Sophie Adriaenssen en tant que Counsel au sein de sa pratique de droit public. Le cabinet a également accueilli Quentin Declève en tant que Counsel au sein de sa pratique de droit de l'UE/de la concurrence.

Stibbe Brussel versterkt praktijken Publiekrecht en EU/Competition met twee counselbenoemingen

Stibbe Brussel heeft Sophie Adriaenssen benoemd tot Counsel in zijn praktijkgroep Publiekrecht. Het kantoor heeft daarnaast Quentin Declève verwelkomd als Counsel in zijn praktijkgroep EU/Competition. De nieuwe benoemingen gelden vanaf 1 januari 2023.

Quentin Declève

Counsel Brussels

Caitlin De Luyck

Junior Associate Brussels

COVID-19 impacts level and payment of antitrust fines

As well as granting companies leeway on certain COVID-19 initiated collaborations (see our May 2020 newsletter), the coronavirus outbreak has also led competition authorities to take a more lenient stance towards fine calculations and payments.

Commission reveals first piece of antitrust sustainability puzzle

The European Commission has published a Policy Brief setting out its preliminary views on how to fit the European Green Deal’s sustainability goals into the EU competition rules.