Global Competition Review

The French Connection: The Briefing for 25 April 2024

French President Emmanuel Macron said today that the EU must respond to “oversubsidies” in the US and China by introducing exemptions to competition rules to support the growth of AI and green energy companies. It’s not the first time a French politician has championed European champions to the detriment of the antitrust rules – and it likely won’t be the last. Also in The Briefing, Swisscom is sanctioned €18 million and Chile’s competition tribunal is urged to levy its first-ever interlocking directorate fines on a bank and insurance company.

CMA updates Phase II regime

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has confirmed highly-anticipated changes to its Phase II merger investigations process. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer partner Colin Raftery, formerly senior director of mergers at the CMA, discusses how the new approach could impact dealmakers’ strategies when it comes to evidence, remedies and dealing with issues raised by third parties.

Hungarian government drops German Section 19A-style reforms

The Hungarian government has withdrawn proposed changes to the country’s competition regime that would have subjected certain companies to heightened antitrust scrutiny but the national enforcer is still set to receive beefed-up market investigation powers.

AI covered by DMA, EU official says

The Digital Markets Act can regulate artificial intelligence despite not being listed as a core platform service, an EU official responsible for enforcing the new rules has said.

RBB Economics set to launch first office in Latin America

RBB Economics is expanding into Latin America for the first time, opening a new office in Chile headed by the former chief economist for mergers at the country’s competition authority.

Microsoft, Amazon criticise CMA’s fresh AI partnerships scrutiny

Microsoft and Amazon say their investments in artificial intelligence startups are not mergers, after the UK’s antitrust watchdog launched a call for views on Microsoft’s partnership with Mistral AI, its hiring of …

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GCR USA

FTC and DOJ urge FERC to scrutinise common ownership

The US antitrust agencies have asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to analyse whether minority ownership stakes in rival utilities may raise competition concerns.

Chamber of Commerce sues FTC to block non-compete rule

The Federal Trade Commission and chair Lina Khan’s blanket ban on non-compete was an “unlawful and unprecedented” abuse of bureaucracy, the US Chamber of Commerce has alleged in a lawsuit.

GCR FIC

UK explores screening outbound investments

A “very small proportion” of outbound investments could present national security issues, the UK’s deputy prime minister has said.

CFIUS set to gain biggest boost to powers since 2018

The US Department of the Treasury has proposed granting the country’s investment screening watchdog enhanced access to information and penalty powers to better address national security concerns.

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Interviews and Analysis

A Q&A with Alexis Pirchio

Alexis Pirchio rejoined Argentina’s National Commission for Competition Defence last month as head of the agency after five years working in the private sector. He spoke to GCR about recent setbacks to …

A Q&A with Étienne Chantrel

Étienne Chantrel stepped down as head of the mergers unit at France’s Competition Authority last Monday. He spoke to GCR about recent Article 22 referrals, political interference, policing minority shareholdings and the …

A Q&A with Cani Fernández

Cani Fernández is more than halfway into her tenure as president of Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition. She spoke to GCR about prioritising probes into Google and Booking.com, investing in …

A Q&A with KFTC chair Han Ki-jeong

Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol appointed Han Ki-jeong to lead the country's Fair Trade Commission last year. The KFTC head spoke to GCR about the agency’s bid to tackle anticompetitive practices from Big …

Insight

Industry perspective: considering the consumer in SEP/FRAND negotiations

Featured in SEP/FRAND Hub 2023/2024

When navigating the complexities of SEP/FRAND licensing, it is imperative to take account of consumer voices alongside market …

European Union: Impact of New Competition Regime on the Digital Single Market

Featured in Digital Markets Guide - Third Edition

Last year the European Commission published new guidelines to update online trade restrictions and harmonise the approach to …

Non-Structural Remedies and Their Key Strengths

Featured in Merger Remedies Guide - Fifth Edition

Antitrust authorities tend to prefer structural over non-structural remedies as the latter require constant monitoring, may be less …

GCR Enforcer Hub

GCR Enforcer Hub brings together critical information about the world’s competition enforcement agencies from both the legal and economist perspectives.

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