Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: Final cement price announcement published by CMA, (Jan 22, 2016)
By Michael Menzhuber, J.D., LL.M.
A final order prohibiting Great Britain (GB) suppliers from sending generic price announcement letters to their customers was published by the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today, the agency announced. The order is effective beginning January 23, 2016.
The final order provides that any price announcement letter will have to be specific and relevant to the customer receiving it. This will include: (1) setting out the last unit price paid; (2) the new unit price; and (3) specific details of other charges that apply to the customer.
The order results from the Competition Commission’s (CC) investigation into the supply or acquisition of aggregates, cement and ready-mix concrete in GB, pursuant to which: (1) Lafarge Tarmac is required to sell one of its concrete plants; and (2) Hanson is required to sell one of its ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) plants.
According to the CC, two further remedy measures aimed at reducing transparency in the GB cement markets will be implemented. They are: (1) a prohibition on generic cement price announcements; and (2) restrictions on the disclosure and publication of market data.
The CMA first consulted on a proposed order in September 2015. Following changes made as a result of responses received, it consulted on an amended version in December.
News: Antitrust