Antitrust Lawyer Blog

On June 12, 2014, the European General Court handed down a ruling that rejected Intel’s appeal to have its $1.44 billion fine overturned. In 2009, the European Commission (“EC”) concluded that Intel engaged in anticompetitive practices.  According to the EC, Intel’s alleged anticompetitive behavior included giving rebates to PC makers Dell, Hewlett-Packard, NEC and Lenovo…

On May 30, 2014, the lawyers representing Donald Sterling, the controversial ex-owner of the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) franchise, the Los Angeles Clippers (“Clippers”), filed a complaint before the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California to fight an order by the NBA that would force him to divest his ownership in the…

On May 20, 2014, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced that it will require Ardent Mills, a proposed merger of the wheat milling operations of the companies ConAgra, Cargill, and CHS, to divest four competitively significant mills to an upfront buyer before clearing the deal for approval. These four mills are located in regions encompassing…

On May 29, 2014, Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service (“FAS”), the country’s top antitrust regulator, has lowered the fine levied on Severnoi Company for its part in a cartel operating in the Norwegian salmon supply sector, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant. The fine was lowered after SK Retail, part of the Severnoi company group, told the…

On May 30, 2014, the federal district court of the District of Columbia, Judge Beryl Howell upheld the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) newly adopted HSR rule governing reporting of transfers of certain exclusive patent rights in the pharmaceutical industry. The rule was adopted in November of 2013.  The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (“PhRMA”) trade…

On May 27, 2014, Hitoshi Hirano, an executive of car heater panel manufacturer Tokai Rika, was indicted to fix the price of auto parts with other Japanese parts manufacturers. In addition, Mr. Hirano was charged with persuading company employees to destroy records that would reveal the conspiracy. According to the indictment, Mr. Hirano learned of…

On May 30, 2014, Judge Beryl Howell of the federal district court of the District of Columbia upheld the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) newly adopted HSR rule governing reporting of transfers of certain exclusive patent rights in the pharmaceutical industry. The rule was adopted in November of 2013.  The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America…

On May 30, 2014, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) approved the merger between Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank, the two largest men’s wear companies without any conditions. On January 28, 2014, the FTC issued a second to request to review the transaction.  After approximately four months, the FTC determined that ample competition existed in…

On May 29, 2014, Brazilian antitrust agency, Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (“CADE”) maintained a record fine of 3.1 billion Brazilian reais (around $1.4 billion), on top of mandatory asset divestitures, against the members of a long-running cement and concrete cartel that has allegedly inflated the price of cement and concrete products by as much…

On May 29, South Korea’s  Yonhap news agency reported that the country’s Prosecutor’s Office has seized documents from the Korea Rail Network Authority (“KR”), to investigate bribery and irregular supply relationships by three to four rail part manufacturers that provided supplies to KR. In addition, some rail parts manufacturers are being accused of counterfeiting certificates…