Does EU Merger Control Discriminate against Small Market Companies?
Does EU Merger Control Discriminate against Small Market Companies?

Author: Mika Oinonen

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2010-07-20

Total Pages: 448

ISBN-13: 9041142355

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Although the question posed by the title of this book has generated considerable debate, the essential issue remains open and largely blurred. While some believe that there is no so-called ‘small market problem’, others discern discrimination against small market companies (i.e., companies with a strong position in their home markets but a modest position in the European and global markets) and a consequent need for changes in competition law. The author of this enormously helpful work here sets the stage for meaningful discussion by analysing the EC Merger Regulation’s objectives, economic foundations, and application practice to present a reasoned view of the issues that can be considered relevant for such a discussion. Considering their effect on the ’small market problem’, the author scrutinizes such factors as the following: the Commission’s methodology for delineating relevant markets in merger assessments; unnecessary prohibition caused by overestimation of the market power of small market mergers; erroneous approval of cases that should actually be prohibited; impact of the so-called ‘Harvard’ and ‘Chicago’ schools of competition theory and their key policy implications; process-related alternative views of competition and new synthesizing approaches; relevant criteria for a proper analysis of market power; concentration measures and market shares; barriers to entry; price and profitability analyses; and product definition v. geographic definition of markets. In a final chapter, the author presents some tentative conclusions, normative in nature, concerning the problem and the relevant issues relating to it. As the first in-depth analysis of the issues that are actually involved – with its particular diagnosis of the assessment of market power in considering the relevant issues for the problem – this study brings into salience the terms of the debate on the ‘problem’, and thus takes a giant step forward towards defining what needs to be done. Competition lawyers, policymakers, and academics in Europe and elsewhere will find the discussion of great value.

European Merger Control
European Merger Control

Author: Catalin Stefan Rusu

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2010-01-01

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 9041132597

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Twenty years of experience have inevitably brought to light challenges and tensions in the enforcement of the European merger control system. Some of these challenges have been faced, some have been solved and some remain latent. This very valuable study starts from the proposition that the EU has never fully acknowledged those fundamental challenges which relate to the rationale behind merger control in Europe. The author shows how the Commission's focus on adapting the rules of merger control to the economic realities of the future business environment, although designed with a view to facilitating European integration, has compromised attainment of legal certainty, transparency and welfare enhancement. In its detailed evaluation of the 'future market structure prediction process' embedded in European merger control policy, this book approaches two rock-bottom, far-reaching questions: In what ways does merger control promote consumer and societal welfare? Is the Commission able to correctly predict the outcome of any given concentration transaction? These considerations take the reader through a deep and searching analysis that calls into question the very credibility and transparency of the system, leading to alternatives which promise a new clarity of purpose and procedure. The author describes how these recommendations can be integrated into the functioning framework of the European project. Taken fully into account along the way is a wide spectrum of relevant source material, including the following: applicable articles and chapters of the founding and subsequent European Treaties; secondary European legislation concerning competition and merger activity; domestic competition laws; guidelines, notices and action plans; competition law reviews, statements of intentions; draft legislative attempts; speeches on the enactment and purpose of merger control; Member States' views concerning European merger control as expressed during Council negotiations; officially available concentration-related statistics; and a wide-ranging literature review covering both the legal and economic sides of merger control. Throughout, the author substantiates theoretical assertions with case law examples, clearly exposing doctrines arising from such cases as Continental Can, Phillip Morris/Rothmans and the Airtours, Schneider and Tetra Laval trilogy. A unique feature of the analysis draws on the author's personal experience while working for a Brussels competition law firm. This book is a remarkable compound of academic guide to the roots and rationales of the European Merger Control System, practical guide to the day-to-day intricacies of merger control enforcement, and 'raw' guide for decision makers and merger control law enforcers. It will be of immense value in all three contexts.

Does EU Merger Control Discriminate Against Small Market Companies?
Does EU Merger Control Discriminate Against Small Market Companies?

Author: Mika Oinonen

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2010-01-01

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 9041132619

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Although the question posed by the title of this book has generated considerable debate, the essential issue remains open and largely blurred. While some believe that there is no so-called 'small market problem', others discern discrimination against small market companies (i.e., companies with a strong position in their home markets but a modest position in the European and global markets) and a consequent need for changes in competition law. The author of this enormously helpful work here sets the stage for meaningful discussion by analysing the EC Merger Regulation's objectives, economic foundations, and application practice to present a reasoned view of the issues that can be considered relevant for such a discussion. Considering their effect on the 'small market problem', the author scrutinizes such factors as the following: the Commission's methodology for delineating relevant markets in merger assessments; unnecessary prohibition caused by overestimation of the market power of small market mergers; erroneous approval of cases that should actually be prohibited; impact of the so-called 'Harvard' and 'Chicago' schools of competition theory and their key policy implications; process-related alternative views of competition and new synthesizing approaches; relevant criteria for a proper analysis of market power; concentration measures and market shares; barriers to entry; price and profitability analyses; and product definition v. geographic definition of markets. In a final chapter, the author presents some tentative conclusions, normative in nature, concerning the problem and the relevant issues relating to it. As the first in-depth analysis of the issues that are actually involved - with its particular diagnosis of the assessment of market power in considering the relevant issues for the problem - this study brings into salience the terms of the debate on the 'problem', and thus takes a giant step forward towards defining what needs to be done. Competition lawyers, policymakers, and academics in Europe and elsewhere will find the discussion of great value.

The EU Merger Regulation
The EU Merger Regulation

Author: Alistair Lindsay

Publisher: Sweet & Maxwell

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 849

ISBN-13: 041404844X

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This is the 4th edition of The EC Merger Regulation - a detailed guide to the method of merger control in the European Union. Fully revised for 2012, this comprehensive text describes how the European Commission determines approval of a notified merger, thereby providing information and techniques to complete merger deals successfully for companies operating in the European Union

Merger Control in the EU and Turkey
Merger Control in the EU and Turkey

Author: Fevzi Toksoy

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2019-09-08

Total Pages: 314

ISBN-13: 9403510218

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As a country on the way to integration with the European Union (EU), Turkey has been following EU principles in establishing and improving its merger control regime, as well as overall competition law, keeping pace with changes in relevant EU legislation and case law. However, as is to be expected, specific adjustment needs engender significant differences in the two regimes. This book presents, for the first time, a description and analysis of the relationship between the EU and Turkish merger control law and practice. The authors—all three both practicing lawyers and academicians in Turkey—focus on comparing substantive, procedural and jurisdictional issues and draw parallels on their regulation in the two jurisdictions. These matters include the following: determining whether a transaction shall be regarded as a notifiable merger, hence be subject to control; financial thresholds used for allocating jurisdictions; extraterritoriality of merger control; relationship between the significant impediment to effective competition (SIEC) test and the dominance test; determination of the relevant market; techniques used for assessment of horizontal and non-horizontal mergers; notification requirements; procedural duties of competition authorities in relation to remedies; third-party rights; gun-jumping fines and other sanctions for failure to comply with merger control requirements; and peculiarities of assessment of mergers in the big data world. Each chapter provides an overview of the respective issues in the EU and Turkey, projecting a clear understanding of the main similarities and differences in the two regimes. A notable feature is an in-depth analysis of applicable case law concerning each issue, with most of the Turkish decisions available in English for the first time. In addition to these practical issues, the book’s comparative approach will prove to be of great value. With its clear answers to questions about what transactions are subject to merger control, what criteria are used in assessing those transactions, and the main issues that a foreign company should be aware of while merging with another foreign company with effect in Turkey and/or EU, the book will be of immeasurable value for lawyers and their business clients dealing with multijurisdictional merger cases. Interested academics and policymakers will also find much here to attract their attention.

EU Competition Law Volume II: Mergers and Acquisitions
EU Competition Law Volume II: Mergers and Acquisitions

Author: Jones, Christopher

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2021-12-14

Total Pages: 1680

ISBN-13: 180220346X

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This book is a Claeys and Casteels title, now formally part of Edward Elgar Publishing. With extensive updating in the decade since the publication of the second edition, and written by the key Commission and European Court officials in this area, as well as leading practitioners, the third edition of this unique title provides meticulous and exhaustive coverage of EU Merger Law.

The Pros and Cons of Merger Control
The Pros and Cons of Merger Control

Author: Karl Lundvall

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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This book commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the Swedish Competition Authority and consists of four individual contributions from independent scholars and professionals with expertise in the economics of merger control. Neven and Roller evaluate decisions made by the European Commission for a sample of cases considered in the last ten years in light of the stock market anticipations of the deals' anti-competitive consequences. A main finding is that the Commission has done fairly well in clearing pro-competitive mergers, but not as well in prohibiting anti-competitive ones. The discrepancy between decisions and the stock market's anticipations may be associated with the scope of the concept of dominance, political influence, and possible shortcomings in the treatment of efficiencies. The evidence supports the view that changes in the treatment of efficiencies by the Commission as well as procedural and institutional reforms are needed. Since phase I discrepancies are more common, increasing the time limits, or, alternatively opening phase II investigations more frequently may well be justified. Kai-Uwe Kuhn examines the analysis of collective dominance following the judgment by the Court of First Instance on the Airtours case. Collective dominance may be simple in theory, but it is complex to verify in practice. Several criticisms are raised against the implementation of the concept by the Commission. A key weakness is a lack of solid economic analysis. The Airtours judgment may have effectively put a lid on "Pandora's box" of non-essential arguments previously advanced to support the creation of collective dominance in some cases. Alternative instruments, based mainly on the tools of economic theory, may prove better suited for identifying such behaviour. Gregory Werden and Luke Froeb advocate the use of formal economic models calibrated to fit the industry under review. Calibrated economic models provide quantitative tools for market delineation and direct estimation of the effects of proposed mergers on prices, quantities, and welfare. Simulating mergers often offers opportunities for understanding what happens when two companies become one better than those with traditional structural analysis. In particular, the technique is well suited for assessing the impact on competition of mergers involving differentiated consumer products. Henrik Horn and Johan Stennek explore the debate on whether firms in small countries are at a disadvantage because of EU merger control. Markets are often national, making it harder for firms in small countries to merge simply because they would very soon reach critical market shares, although they would still be relatively small in absolute size. It may therefore be beneficial for a small country to allow mergers that potentially hurt domestic consumers, since they have the advantage of making the companies large enough to be internationally competitive. A counter argument is that sacrificing consumer interests is not necessary since the companies can engage in cross-border mergers instead.

Promoting Competition in Innovation Through Merger Control in the ICT Sector
Promoting Competition in Innovation Through Merger Control in the ICT Sector

Author: Kalpana Tyagi

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2019-06-21

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 366258784X

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This book addresses the question of how competition authorities assess mergers in the Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector so as to promote competition in innovation. A closer look at the question reveals that it is far more complex and difficult to answer for the ICT, telecommunications and multi-sided platform (MSP) economy than for more traditional sectors of the economy. This has led many scholars to re-think and question whether the current merger control framework is suitable for the ICT sector, which is often also referred to as the new economy. The book pursues an interdisciplinary approach combining insights from law, economics and corporate strategy. Further, it has a comparative dimension, as it discusses the practices of the US, the EU and, wherever relevant, of other competition authorities from around the globe. Considering that the research was conducted in the EU, the practices of the European Commission remain a key aspect of the content.Considering its normative dimension, the book concentrates on the substantive aspects of merger control. To facilitate a better understanding of the most important points, the book also offers a brief overview of the procedural aspects of merger control in the EU, the US and the UK, and discusses recent amendments to Austrian and German law regarding the notification threshold. Given its scope, the book offers an invaluable guide for competition law scholars, practitioners in the field, and competition authorities worldwide.

Merger Control in the EU and Turkey
Merger Control in the EU and Turkey

Author: Fevzi Toksoy

Publisher: Kluwer Law International B.V.

Published: 2022-05-11

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 9403543043

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As a country on the way to integration with the European Union (EU), Turkey has been following EU principles in establishing and improving its merger control regime, as well as overall competition law, keeping pace with changes in relevant EU legislation and case law. This book presents, for the first time, a description and analysis of the relationship between the EU and Turkish merger control law and practice. The second edition of the book considers the legislative changes that occurred in 2020-2021, including the reform of the Turkish Competition Law which introduced the significant impediment to effective competition (SIEC) test into the Turkish concentration control. The authors—all three, both practicing lawyers and academicians in Turkey—focus on comparing substantive, procedural and jurisdictional issues and draw parallels on their regulation in the two jurisdictions. These matters include the following: determining whether a transaction shall be regarded as a notifiable merger, hence be subject to control; financial thresholds used for allocating jurisdictions; extraterritoriality of merger control; relationship between the SIEC test and the dominance test; determination of the relevant market; techniques used for assessment of horizontal and non-horizontal mergers; notification requirements; procedural duties of competition authorities in relation to remedies; third-party rights; gun-jumping fines and other sanctions for failure to comply with merger control requirements; and peculiarities of assessment of mergers in the Big Data world. Each chapter provides an overview of the respective issues in the EU and Turkey, projecting a clear understanding of the main similarities and differences in the two regimes. A notable feature is an in-depth analysis of applicable case law concerning each issue, with most of the Turkish decisions available in English for the first time. The book’s comparative approach will prove to be of great value. With its clear answers to questions about what transactions are subject to merger control, what criteria are used in assessing those transactions, and the main issues that a foreign company should be aware of while merging with another foreign company with effect in Turkey and/or EU, the book will be of immeasurable value for lawyers and their business clients dealing with multijurisdictional merger cases. Interested academics and policymakers will also find much here to attract their attention.