Callol, Coca & Asociados » Newsletters

01	Representative CNMC merger decisions, December 2022 – February 2023.
02	*Merger control / Gun-jumping. The CNMC fines telecommunications operator Xfera Móviles €1.5 million for gun-jumping (Decision of 21 December 2022, XFERA, file SNC/DC/144/22).*
03	Merger control / Wedding planning. *The CNMC approves with commitments the purchase of Zankyou by Wedding Planner (WEDDING PLANNER/ZANKYOU VENTURES, file C/1318/22).*
04	Merger control / Legal databases. The CNMC approves with commitments the acquisition of Thomson Reuters Spain, Wolters Kluwer Spain, and Wolters Kluwer France by Karnov (Decision of 2 November 2022, KARNOV/TR ESPAÑA/WA ESPAÑA, file C/1295/22).
05	Merger control / Artificial reproduction. *The CNMC clears KKR’s acquisition of IVI, subject to commitments (Decision of 21 December 2022, KKR/IVI, file C/1321/22).*
06	CNMC antitrust activity / Vertical agreements. *The CNMC closes antitrust proceedings against ISDIN, S.A., by means of commitments Decision (Decision of 30 December 2022, ISDIN, file S/0049/19).*
07	CNMC antitrust activity / Recycling market. The CNMC has adopted interim measures to guarantee publicity and transparency in the upcoming waste auctions organized by Ecoembes (Decision of 29 December 2022, SUBASTAS ECOEMBES, file S/0021/21).
08	CNMC antitrust activity / Insurance. *CNMC ends antitrust proceedings against DKV by means of a commitments Decision (Decision of 8 February 2023, DKV COBERTURAS AUTONOMOS, file S/0030/20).*
09	Supreme Court activity / Legal costs. The Supreme Court rejects the appeals filed by the bar Associations of Madrid, Guadalajara and Las Palmas and confirms its antitrust fines in connection with collective price recommendations by professionals Bar Associations (Judgements of the Supreme Court of 19 December 2022, appeal number 7573/2022, of 23 December 2022, appeal number 7583/2022, and of 23 December 2022, appeal number 8404/2022).
10	Public consultation / CNMC. Implementation of the disqualification of antitrust offenders to participate in public procurement (15 November 2022).
11	High Court activity / Anticompetitive agreements – Abuse of dominance. The High Court quashes a decision issued by the CNMC fining company Istobal (High Court judgment of 29 July 2022, appeal number 355/2016 (recently published)).
12	Judge of first instance activity / Antitrust damages. Antitrust damages resulting from an abuse of dominant position in the collective management of intellectual property rights (Madrid Court of First Instance judgment of 22 March 2022, NH Hoteles v. EGEDA, appeal number 2250/2019).
13	Madrid Provincial Court activity / Interim measures. Madrid Provincial Court Order on interim measures on appeal against the prior Order from the judge of first instance deciding to revoke prior interim measures (Madrid Provincial Court Order of 30 January 2023, appeal number 1578/2022).
14	European Court of Justice activity / Super League. *Opinion of the Advocate General Rantos of 15 December 2022 European Super League, case C-333/21.*

For more information click here.

Competition Bulletin November 2022

Callol Coca — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 08:00:50 +0000

01	Representative CNMC merger decisions, February-November 2022.
02	Legislative Activity / Reform of the Unfair Competition Act.
03	CNMC activity / National postal service. *The CNMC fines Correos $32.6 million for the use of a selective discount system for large customers (Decision of 18 February 2022, CORREOS 3, file S/0041/19).*
04	CNMC activity / Scrap purchase market. *The CNMC fines three steel companies $24 million for anti-competitive exchanges of information in the market for scrap iron (Decision of 4 March 2022, CHATARRA Y ACERO, file S/0012/19).*
05	CNMC activity / Bid-rigging. The CNMC fines six of Spain’s largest construction companies for altering the competitive process of infraestructure tenders over a period of 25 years (Decision of 5 July 2022, OBRA CIVIL 2, file S/0021/20).
06	CNMC activity / Football. The CNMC shelves an investigation against the Royal Spanish Football Federation clearing it of a prior formal indictment for abuse of dominant position (Decision of 1 June 2022, Second and Third Division Football, file S/0042/19).
07	CNMC activity / Excessive pricing of orphan drugs. The CNMC fines Leadiant €10.25 million for excessive pricing of its drug for the treatment of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (Decision of 14 November 2022, CDCA Leadiant, file S/0028/10).
08	CNMC activity / generic entry delaying tactics. The CNMC fines Merck Sharp €39 million for abuse of dominant position.
09	CNMC activity / Recycling market. The CNMC formally initiates antitrust proceedings against Ecoembalajes España, S.A. for possible abuse of dominant position (5 October 2022).
10	CNMC activity / Hotels and online travel agencies. The CNMC initiates antitrust proceeding against Booking.com B.V. for possible abuse of dominant position (17 October 2022).
11	Commercial Court activity / Antitrust litigation. The Commercial Court nº 3 of Madrid finds that the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has abused its dominant position and condemns to compensate for damages (Judgement of the Commercial Court nº 3 of Madrid of 10 January 2022, appeal number 2087/2019).
12	Commercial Court activity / World Padel Tour. The Commercial Court nº 15 of Madrid rejects the request for interim measures requested by World Padel Tour to stop the Premier Padel circuit.
13	High Court activity / Security companies. *The High Court overturns €46 million fines on Prosegur and Loomis (Judgement of the High Court of 20 July 2022, Prosegur compañía de seguridad, S.A., v. CNMC, appeal number 3109/2022).*
14	High Court activity / UTEs. The High Court upholds the appeal of JEZ Sistemas Ferroviarios, S.L. and quashes the CNMC cartel Decision in connection with high speed train infraestructure (Judgement of the High Court of 27 December 2021, appeal number 432/2016).
15	Judicial activity / Time limits of administrative investigations. The High Court has annulled an antitrust decision due to the expiration of the administrative time limits for antitrust decisions (Judgement of the High Court of 27 July 2022, appeal number 92/2016).
16	Judicial activity / Prohibition to contract with the Public Administration. The Superior Court of Justice of Cataluña establishes that a Competition Authority can decide on the scope of the prohibition to deal with Public Administrations.
17	EU Commission activity / Hungary breached the EUMR. The EC fines that Hungary breached Article 21 EUMR by vetoing an acquisition of EU dimension on the basis of the national foreign direct investment screening regime (21 February 2022).
18	EU Commission activity / Internet of things. The European Commission publishes the report of the sector inquiry into Internet of things (20 January 2022).
19	European Commission activity / Draft Notice on Market Definition (October 2022).
20	CJEU activity / Intel. The General Courts annuls in part the EC’s fine against Intel (Judgement of the General Court of 26 January 2022, Intel Corporation v. European Commission, case T-286/09).
21	*CJEU activity / Non bis in idem* principle*. The Court of Justice specifies the protection against double jeopardy provided by EU law (Judgement of the Court of Justice of 22 March 2022, in cases Bpost*, C-117/20 and Nordzucker and others, case C-151/20).
22	*CJEU activity / Damages Directive. The CJEU clarifies the temporal scope of the Damages Directive (Judgement of the Court of Justice of 22 June 2022, Volvo and DAF Trucks, case C-267/20).*
23	CJEU activity / Ilumina. The General Court rejects Ilumina’s appeal of the EC decision to void the Grail Ilumina Concentration (Judgement of the European Court of Justice of 13 July 2022, Ilumina, Inc. v. European Commission, case T-227/21).
24	Foreign Direct Investment Screening – Draft Regulation implementing the Foreign Direct Investment Act (December 2021).

For more information click here.

Regulatory Alert – Foreign Direct Investment Screening

Callol Coca — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 07:00:50 +0000

Draft Regulation implementing the Foreign Direct Investment Act

Draft Regulation clarifies various key aspects of Spain’s FDI screening regime - see here

Alerta Derecho de la Competencia noviembre 2021

Callol Coca — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 08:00:50 +0000

Indice

01	Decisiones de la CNMC en el ámbito del control de concentraciones, Mayo-Noviembre 2021.
02	Concentración a monopolio: servicios portuarios. La CNMC aprueba con compromisos la creación de una empresa en participación al 50% en el Puerto de Barcelona (Decisión de 27 de julio de 2021, MOORING & PORT SERVICES, S.L./ CEMESA AMARRES BARCELONA, S.A., expediente C/1134/20).
03	Otras concentraciones problemáticas.
04	Actividad CNMC / Gun-jumping: *La CNMC sanciona a Albia Gestión de Servicios S.L.U. (Decisión de 13 de julio de 2021, ALBIA/ TANATORIOS* MOSTOLES, expediente SNC/DC/045/21).**
05	Acuerdos restrictivos / Red de Carreteras del Estado. *Amaño de licitaciones de servicios de mantenimiento y explotación de carreteras (Decisión de 17 de agosto de 2021, CONSERVACIÓN DE CARRETERAS, expediente S/0013/19).*
06	Acuerdos restrictivos / Distribución cinematográficos. Terminación convencional que implica a las grandes distribuidoras y a una empresa de medición de audiencias (Decisión de 29 de septiembre de 2021, DISTRIBUCIÓN CINEMATOGRÁFICA, expediente S/001/19).
07	Acuerdos restrictivos / Red ferroviaria. La CNMC multa por amaño de licitaciones a las principales empresas de seguridad, señalización y comunicaciones en relación con la red de alta velocidad, media distancia y cercanías en España (Decisión de 29 de septiembre de 2021, SEGURIDAD Y COMUNICACIONES FERROVIARIAS, expediente S/DC/0614/17).
08	Acuerdos restrictivos / EURO 6000. La CNMC termina con compromisos la investigación contra EURO 6000 en relación con las condiciones de acceso a su red de cajeros (Decisión de 2 de noviembre de 2021, EURO 6000, expediente S/0034/19).
09	Actividad judicial / Fútbol. El asunto de la Superliga Europea ante los tribunales españoles.
10	Actividad judicial / Cártel de la leche. El tribunal dicta sentencia de daños y perjuicios en relación con la fijación de precios en el cártel de la leche (Sentencia del Juzgado de lo Mercantil nº 1 de Granada de 30 de junio de 2021, número de recurso 1722/2015).
11	Actividad judicial / Prohibición de contratar. El Tribunal Supremo confirma una medida cautelar concedida por la Audiencia Nacional para suspender una prohibición de contratar incluida en una resolución de la CNMC (Sentencia del Tribunal Supremo de 14 de septiembre de 2021, número de recurso 6372/2020).
12	La CNMC se suma a la amplia tendencia de investigar conductas de las “Big Tech”, en este caso contra Apple y Amazon.
13	Reforma de la Ley de Defensa de la Competencia
14	Derecho de la UE / Actividad de la Comisión Europea / Acuerdos Verticales. La Comisión Europea publica el borrador de Reglamento de Exención por Categorías de los Acuerdos Verticales (VBER) y sus Directivas.
15	Derecho de la UE / Fabricantes de coches. La Comisión Europea multa a los fabricantes de coches con 875 milllones de euros por restringir la competencia en la limpieza de emisiones de los turismos diesel.
16	Derecho de la UE / Mercado de negociación de derivados sobre tipos de interés en yenes. La Comisión Europea vuelve a adaoptar su decisión y multa a ICAP con 6,45 millones de euros por facilitar varios cárteles en el mercado de negociación de derivados de tipos de interés en yenes.
17	Derecho de la UE/ Actividad judicial / Sentencia SUMAL. El TJUE avala la responsabilidad descendente por conductas anticompetitivas (Sentencia del Tribunal de Justicia de 6 de octubre de 2021, asunto C-822/19).
18	Derecho de la UE / Actividad judicial / Directiva de Daños. Conclusiones del Abogado General Rantos sobre el alcance temporal de la Directiva de daños.
19	*Derecho de EEUU / Actividad Judicial / Epic Games Inc. v. Apple Inc.* *El juez concluye que Apple no puede ser tachada de monopolista (Sentencia del Tribunal de EEUU del Distrito Norte de California de 10 de septiembre de 2021, Epic v. Apple).*

Para más información pinche aquí.

Competition Bulletin November 2021

Callol Coca — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 08:00:50 +0000

01	Selected CNMC merger decisions, May-November 2021.
02	Merger-to-monopoly: port services. The CNMC approves with commitments the creation of a 50/50 joint venture in the Port of Barcelona (Decision of 27 July 2021, MOORING & PORT SERVICES, S.L./ CEMESA AMARRES BARCELONA, S.A., file C/1134/20).
03	Other problematic mergers.
04	Gun-jumping: *The CNMC fines Albia Gestión de Servicios S.L.U. (Decision of 13 July 2021, ALBIA/ TANATORIOS* MOSTOLES, file SNC/DC/045/21).**
05	Restrictive agreements / State Road Network. *Bid-rigging of road maintenance and operation services (Decision of 17 August 2021, CONSERVACIÓN DE CARRETERAS, file S/0013/19).*
06	Restrictive agreements / Film distribution. *Commitments decision involving film distribution majors and an audience measurement company (Decision of 29 September 2021, DISTRIBUCIÓN CINEMATOGRÁFICA, file S/001/19).*
07	Restrictive agreements / Railway network. The CNMC has fined for bid-rigging the main security, signaling and communications systems companies in connection with the high-speed train’s commuter network in Spain (Decision of 29 September 2021, SEGURIDAD Y COMUNICACIONES FERROVIARIAS, file S/DC/0614/17).
08	Restrictive agreements / Euro 6000. *The CNMC closes with commitments an investigation against EURO 6000 related to access to ATM networks (Decision of 2 November 2021, EURO 6000, file S/0034/19).*
09	Judicial activity / Football Superleague. Status of proceedings of the European Superleague matter.
10	Judicial activity / Milk cartel. Court issues damages decision in connection with price fixing in milk cartel (Judgement of the Commercial Court nº 1 of Granada of 30 June 2021, appeal number 1722/2015).
11	Judicial activity / Prohibition to participate in procurement tenders. The Supreme Court confirms an injunction granted by the High Court to stay a prohibition to participate in public procurement tendering included in a bid-rigging antitrust decision (Judgement of the Supreme Court of 14 September 2021, appeal number 6372/2020).
12	The CNMC joins the larger trend on investigating conduct by “big tech”, in this case against Apple and Amazon.
13	Reform of the Competition Act.
14	EU law / European Commission activity / Vertical Agreements. The European Commission publishes a revised draft Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and Guidelines.
15	EU law / Car manufacturers. The European Commission fines car manufacturers €875 million for restricting competition in emission cleaning for new diesel passenger cars.
16	EU Law / Yen Interest Rate Derivatives trading market. The European Commission re-adopts its decision and fines ICAP €6.45 million for facilitating several cartels in Yen Interest Rate Derivatives trading market.
17	EU Law / Judicial activity / SUMAL Judgement. The Court of Justice endorses downward liability by deciding that parties harmed by anticompetitive conduct may claim damages directly against subsidiary companies (Judgement of the Court of Justice of 6 October 2021, case C-822/19).
18	EU Law / Judicial activity / Damages Directive. AG Rantos’ opinion on the temporal scope of the Antitrust Damages Directive.
19	US law / Judicial activity / Epic Games Inc. v. Apple Inc. *The Judge concludes that Apple does not have a monopoly (Judgement of the US Court of the Northern District of California of 10 September 2021, Epic v. Apple).*

For more information click here.

Competition Alert May 2021

Callol Coca — Thu, 13 May 2021 08:00:50 +0000

April 2021 Competition Act Reform

The Spanish Competition Act has just been amended including changes which, though less ambitious than initially envisaged, must be known to companies and individuals with economic interests in Spain. The reforms include areas such as:

antitrust fines, which upper limits are increased substantially;
leniency, where a marker system is now put in place;
rejection of complaints, where a new “priority” test is put in place.

We have summarised the above and other points affected in a one-page quick look note, here.

Regulatory Advisory (Foreign Investment Screening) February 2021

Callol Coca — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 08:00:50 +0000

In a Nutshell: the (Triple) Reform of the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Regime in Spain

In the framework of a larger urgent legislative package to ease the effects of the Covid-19 crisis in the economy in the spring of 2020, the Spanish Government put in place a new foreign direct investment screening system applicable to non-EU/non-EFTA companies. This screening system has been amended twice in the course of 2020 with the aim of clarifying or expanding it to include EU investments. We condensate the various reforms and resulting status of the FDI screening regime in a single page here.

For more information click here.

Competition Alert November 2020

Callol Coca — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:00:50 +0000

The Spanish Government amends the FDI screening regime and temporarily extends the FDI screening regime to investments made by EU/EEA investors above given thresholds.

Royal Decree-Law 34/2020, of 17 November, on urgent measures supporting business solvency and others (RDL 34/2020), has been published today introducing (i) a new amendment to the foreign direct investment (FDI) screening regime applicable to critical infrastructures, supplies, technologies and industries and (ii) temporarily extending the existing FDI screening regime to EU/EFTA investments above given thresholds. The FDI regime was introduced in Spain last March,[1] by means of an amendment to Law 19/2003, of 4 July, on capital movements (Law 19/2003) (click here and here to view our initial alerts on the initial regime and its first modification).

For more information click here.

Competition Bulletin November 2020

Callol Coca — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 08:00:50 +0000

01	Mergers. Selected merger decisions adopted in Spain May – October 2020.
02	CNMC activity. The CNMC publishes a guide on competition law compliance programs.
03	CNMC activity. The CNMC publishes a guide on treatment of confidential information in antitrust proceedings.
04	CNMC activity / Gun-jumping. The CNMC investigates the possible execution of unauthorized mergers, as well as potential antitrust practices involving the funeral insurance and funeral services market.
05	CNMC activity / Amazon. The CNMC concludes that Amazon is a postal operator and must comply with postal sector regulations (Decision of 24 September 2020, file STP/DTSP/006/20).
06	Mergers / Travel agency business. The CNMC authorizes Barceló to purchase Globalia’s travel agency business.
07	Mergers / Phase II. Green light to Çimsa’s acquisition of Cemex.
08	Restrictive agreements / Real estate intermediation market. The CNMC opens antitrust proceeding against seven firms for suspected price coordination in the real estate intermediation market.
09	Restrictive agreements / Selective distribution. *The CNMC accepts commitments by Adidas Spain in connection with contractual provisions applied within its selective distribution network (Decision of 6 February 2020, Adidas, file S/DC/0631/18).*
10	Restrictive agreements / National Meteorological Agency. *The CNMC dismantles a bid-rigging arrangement in tenders by the National Meteorological Agency (Decision of 13 February 2020, RADARES METEOROLOGICOS, file S/DC/0626/18).*
11	Judicial activity / company officer’s penalties. The Supreme Court sheds light on the issue of penalties to directors (Supreme Court Judgments of 1 October 2019, appeal numbers 5280/2018 and 5244/2018).
12	Judicial activity / Refrigerated transport. The High Court has annulled a CNMC Decision fining €8.8 million on 12 refrigerated transport companies and one business association for price-fixing (Judgment of the High Court of 18 February 2020, appeal number 658/2015 among others).
13	Judicial activity / Dawn raids. The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal in connection with dawn raids carried out by the CNMC (Supreme Court Order of 6 March 2020, appeal number 8085/2019).
14	Judicial activity / Adult diapers cartel. Supreme Court sheds light on the liability of cartel members not directly active in the relevant market (Judgment of the Supreme Court of 21 May 2020, appeal number 7880/2018).
15	Judicial activity / EU Law / Gun-jumping. The CJEU upholds Marine Harvest gun-jumping fine (Judgment of the Court of Justice of 4 March 2020, case C-10/18 P).
16	Judicial activity / EU Law / By object infringement. The CJEU confirms a strict interpretation of the notion of infringement by object (Judgment of the Court of Justice of 2 April 2020, case C-228/18).
17	Judicial activity / EU Law / Cartels. The General Court reduces the fine imposed on Infineon for its participation in the smart card chip market by almost €6 million (Judgment of the General Court of 8 July 2020, case T-758/14).
18	Judicial activity / EU Law / Dawn raids. The CJEU rules on dawn raids, in particular on the copying of data without prior study, which is then examined in the offices of the Commission (Judgment of the Court of Justice of 16 July 2020, case C-606/18 P).
19	European Commission activity. The European Commission adopts guidance for national courts when handling disclosure of confidential information.
20	Legislative activity. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation publishes the Draft Regulation modifying the Competition Act.
21	Legislative activity. Emergency amendment to the Law on measures to improve the functioning of the food chain.

For more information click here.

Alerta Derecho de la Competencia Octubre 2020

Callol Coca — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 08:00:50 +0000

Actividad de la Comisión Europea / Acuerdos verticales. La Comisión Europea publica sus conclusiones sobre la evaluación del Reglamento CE 330/2010 de Excepción por Categorías (VBER).

Revisión del VBER. La Comisión Europea (CE) ha publicado recientemente un Documento de Trabajo con sus conclusiones sobre la evaluación del VBER y sus Directrices. El VBER, que proporciona una exención de la prohibición de acuerdos anticompetitivos para ciertas restricciones contractuales (entre proveedores y distribuidores, por ejemplo), expira el 31 de mayo de 2022, por lo que la CE inició en 2018 un proceso de revisión para evaluar si dejarlo expirar, prolongar su duración o revisarlo. Durante esta primera fase de evaluación, la CE ha recibido comentarios de diferentes fuentes (empresas y sus asesores, asociaciones de consumidores y autoridades nacionales de competencia) acerca del funcionamiento del VBER y sus Directrices.

Para más información pinche aquí.

Competition Alert October 2020

Callol Coca — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 08:00:50 +0000

Projected reform of the European competition law vertical restraints regime. The European Commission’s Working Document and next steps at a glance.

Review of VBER. The European Commission (EC) recently published its Staff Working Document containing its findings on the evaluation the Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER) and its Guidelines. The VBER, which provides a safe harbor for contractual restraints (for instance between suppliers and distributors), is due to expire on 31 May 2022 and the EC initiated in 2018 a revision process to assess whether to let the VBER lapse, prolong its duration or revise it. During this first evaluation phase the EC has gathered evidence from various sources (businesses and their advisors, consumer bodies and national competition authorities) on the functioning of the VBER and its Guidelines.

For more information click here.

Regulatory Alert April 2020

Callol Coca — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 10:00:50 +0000

The Spanish Government publishes an amendment clarifying the reform of the Foreign Direct Investment Screening regime approved last 17 March 2020.

The Spanish Government publishes an amendment clarifying the reform of the Foreign Direct Investment Screening regime approved last 17 March 2020 and introducing amongst others rules on indirect ownership and procedure for transactions signed but not yet closed.

For more information click here.

Regulatory Alert March 2020

Callol Coca — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 10:00:50 +0000

The Spanish Government approves a package of economic measures to alleviate the social and economic impact caused by COVID-19. The package includes a reform of the foreign investment screening regimen.

The rapid spread of Covid-19 has led to its consideration as a global pandemic. Spain, currently at the epicenter of the crisis, has declared the state of alarm last Sunday.

For more information click here.

Alert March 2020

Callol Coca — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 08:00:50 +0000

Urgent summary of Royal Decree 463/2020, 14 March, declaring the state of alarm to tackle the situation of sanitary crisis caused by COVID-19.

Lock down in Spain officially started yesterday with an urgent Decree which restricts freedom of movement and CLOSES DOWN ANY RETAIL ACTIVITY with some obvious exceptions such as FOOD and PHARMACEUTICALS, and some less obvious exceptions, such as HAIR DRESSERS and DRY CLEANERS (I was not aware that hair dressers and dry cleaners were such powerful lobbies in Spain) though this is going to be rectified, I have now heard.

More interesting is that all time limits for court proceedings (with some exceptions such as habeas corpus, fundamental rights related proceedings), administrative proceedings and statute of limitations, are stayed. So, for instance, time lines for antitrust investigations which in Spain are subject to strict duration, are suspended; same goes for statute of limitations (for damages claims, for instance). See Royal Decree here and summary here.

Competition Bulletin December 2019

Callol Coca — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 08:00:50 +0000

01	Mergers. Selected merger decisions adopted in Spain between July-December 2019.
02	Mergers / Phase II. *The CNMC opens an in-depth review in the purchase of Cemex España’s assets by Çimsa Cimento (file C/1052/19: ÇIMSA/ ACTIVOS CEMEX).*
03	Mergers / Gun-jumping. *NUFRI, Sociedad Agraria de Transformación A.P.A. (NUFRI) has breached its obligation to notify a concentration prior to its implementation (file C/1047/19, NUFRI/ INDULLEIDA).*
04	Restrictive agreements / Milk supply. *The CNMC has fined eight companies that operate in the raw milk market (Decision of 11 July 2019, INDUSTRIAS LÁCTEAS 2, file S/0425/12).*
05	Restrictive agreements / Mercabarna. Fines on the Wholesalers Fish Association of Mercabarna for imposing certain conditions to their members in sales to fish retailers (Decision of 28 June 2019, Mayoristas Mercado Central de Pescado, file nº90/2017)
06	Restrictive agreements / Industrial assembly and maintenance sector. *The CNMC has stripped down a cartel organized by 19 companies active in the industrial assembly and maintenance sector (Decision of 1 October 2019, Montaje y Mantenimiento Industrial, S/DC/0612/17).*
07	Vertical restraints: network of vertical agreements foreclosing the television advertising market. (Decision of 12 November 2019, Atresmedia/Mediaset, case S/DC/0617/17)
08	Judicial activity / Repsol. The Supreme Court rules against Repsol and confirms the CNMC’s fine, overturning the prior High Court Judgements of 28 July 2017, appeal number 7/2015 and 22 December 2017, appeal number 3/2015 (Supreme Court Judgements of 23 May 2019, appeal number 2117/2018 and of 27 May 2019, appeal number 5326/2017).
09	Preliminary ruling – Harbors/cargo handling sector. The CNMC seeks a preliminary ruling from the CJEU in connection with the Framework Agreement for the cargo handling sector (Agreement of 12 June 2019 requesting a preliminary ruling to the CJEU pursuant Article 267 Treaty of the Functioning of European Union (TFEU) and staying proceedings, Acuerdo Marco de la Estiba, file S/DC/0619/17).
10	Regulation. Spain follows up on the European Commission Regulation on Coordination of Foreign Investment with its own Foreign Investment Screening Regulation.
11	Regulation. New regulated remuneration of renewable generation in Spain.

For more information click here.

Competition Alert October 2019

Callol Coca — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 08:00:50 +0000

Regulatory Alert: Foreign Indirect Screening in Spain (and the EU).

Earlier this year, the EU adopted Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of 19 March (Regulation), establishing a framework for the screening of foreign direct investments (FDI) into the EU. The Regulation, dealing with FDI which may affect security or public order, came into force on 19 April 2019 and will be applicable from 11 October 2020. Amongst other things, the Regulation:

For more information click here.

Competition Alert July 2019

Callol Coca — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 10:30:50 +0000

The European Commission fines Canon €28 M for closing the acquisition of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation prior to notifying and gaining merger clearance (gun-jumping).

On August 12^th 2016 Canon notified the European Commission (EC) its intention to acquire Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (TMSC), a subsidiary of the Japanese multinational Toshiba. The EC authorized the transaction on September 19^th 2016. The acquisition was structured in such a way that Canon could dodge regulatory risk. In short:

For more information click here.

Callol, Coca & Asociados » Newsletters

Competition Bulletin December 2025

Competition Alert – September 2025

The CJEU and the Spanish Supreme Court clarify that the dies a quo for follow-on antitrust damages claims based on NCA decisions is the date when the decision becomes final.

Regulatory Alert – Foreign Direct Investment Screening – April 2025

FDI Screening in Spain: Recent Evolution and Insights

Newsletter Derecho de la Competencia febrero 2025

Competition Bulletin February 2025

Competition Alert – July 2024

The CNMC fines Booking.com € 413.24 million for abusing its dominant position during the last five years.

Newsletter Derecho de la Competencia julio 2024

Competition Bulletin July 2024

Competition Bulletin May 2024

Newsletter Derecho de la Competencia mayo 2024

Competition Bulletin January 2024

Advisory – The Court of Justice of the European Union adjudicates the “Super League” dispute (case C-333/21).

Regulatory Alert – Foreign Direct Investment Screening – July 2023

The Government approves Implementing Regulation (Royal Decree 571/2023 of 4 July) clarifying many key concepts in the area of Foreign Direct Investment Screening

Competition Bulletin February 2023

Table of Contents

Competition Bulletin November 2022

Table of Contents

Regulatory Alert – Foreign Direct Investment Screening

Draft Regulation implementing the Foreign Direct Investment Act

Alerta Derecho de la Competencia noviembre 2021

Indice

Competition Bulletin November 2021

Table of Contents

Competition Alert May 2021

April 2021 Competition Act Reform

Regulatory Advisory (Foreign Investment Screening) February 2021

In a Nutshell: the (Triple) Reform of the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Regime in Spain

Competition Alert November 2020

The Spanish Government amends the FDI screening regime and temporarily extends the FDI screening regime to investments made by EU/EEA investors above given thresholds.

Competition Bulletin November 2020

Table of Contents

Alerta Derecho de la Competencia Octubre 2020

Actividad de la Comisión Europea / Acuerdos verticales. La Comisión Europea publica sus conclusiones sobre la evaluación del Reglamento CE 330/2010 de Excepción por Categorías (VBER).

Competition Alert October 2020

Projected reform of the European competition law vertical restraints regime. The European Commission’s Working Document and next steps at a glance.

Regulatory Alert April 2020

The Spanish Government publishes an amendment clarifying the reform of the Foreign Direct Investment Screening regime approved last 17 March 2020.

Regulatory Alert March 2020

The Spanish Government approves a package of economic measures to alleviate the social and economic impact caused by COVID-19. The package includes a reform of the foreign investment screening regimen.

Alert March 2020

Urgent summary of Royal Decree 463/2020, 14 March, declaring the state of alarm to tackle the situation of sanitary crisis caused by COVID-19.

Competition Bulletin December 2019

Table of Contents

Competition Alert October 2019

Regulatory Alert: Foreign Indirect Screening in Spain (and the EU).

Competition Alert July 2019

The European Commission fines Canon €28 M for closing the acquisition of Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation prior to notifying and gaining merger clearance (gun-jumping).

**The CJEU and the Spanish Supreme Court clarify that the dies a quo for follow-on antitrust damages claims based on NCA decisions is the date when the decision becomes final.**