Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, WORTH NOTING—Other Antitrust and Trade Regulation developments, (May 20, 2015)

A periodic roundup of other items of interest to the Antitrust and Trade Regulation community:

ANTITRUST NEWS: The European Commission has approved the acquisition of TSB Banking Group plc by Banco de Sabadell, S.A. of Spain (case number M.7597). TSB is a British retail and commercial banking services provider spun-off from Lloyds Banking Group. In 2009, the Commission approved state aid granted to Lloyds by the UK, on the basis of a restructuring plan for the bank. In the restructuring plan, Lloyds and the UK authorities committed to carve out and divest part of Lloyds' UK retail banking operations, branded TSB, to offset the distortive effect of the state aid received, as required under EU rules. With the complete divestment of TSB, Lloyds has fulfilled a key measure under its restructuring plan to limit distortions of competition created by the public aid Lloyds received during the financial crisis.

ANTITRUST NEWS: The American Antitrust Institute (AAI) has opened registration for its 16th Annual Conference, Antitrust and the 2016 Presidential Transition, scheduled for June 18, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Annual Conference will explore pathways to create effective, progressive, and consumer-oriented antitrust policy from three perspectives: (1) the core competition policies reflected in modern case law and economic analysis; (2) the institutions of antitrust enforcement and policymaking, including the FTC, the U.S. Department of Justice, State Attorneys’ General, and Congress; and (3) the successes and failures of antitrust as applied in the nation’s critical business sectors and industries. The conference will have breakout sessions on Competition Policy (Cartels, Monopolies, Mergers, Buyer Power, Intellectual Property, Entrepreneurship & Innovation); Institutional Issues (Public Enforcement, Private Enforcement, International Organizations) and Sectors & Industries (Media & Telecom, Healthcare, Airlines, Food & Agriculture, Energy, Banking & Financial Services, and Retail).

FRANCHISING & DISTRIBUTION NEWS: The franchisor of Twin Peaks restaurants, Front Burner Restaurants, has terminated the franchise of its Waco, Texas franchisee without the opportunity to cure defaults, after a violent confrontation occurred in and around the restaurant on May 17. The confrontation between rival motorcycle gangs and police left nine people dead, 18 injured, and 167 arrested. The Waco location had hosted a “Bike Night,” an event also promoted in other Twin Peaks locations, as recently as three days before the shootings. The Dallas-based franchisor laid blame on the Waco franchise managers for choosing to ignore warnings and security advice from the police and the franchisor regarding biker gang gatherings.

ANTITRUST NEWS: In order to promote international cooperation in the areas of competition policy and law, Canada’s Competition Bureau has announced the signing of negotiated cooperation instruments, which include memoranda of understanding (MOUs), with law enforcement agencies in 12 jurisdictions, including Australia and New Zealand, Brazil, Chile, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Taiwan ROC, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Recently, the Bureau signed MOUs with China's State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China to help further develop communication with Chinese agencies that will facilitate technical and enforcement cooperation.

Companies: TSB Banking Group plc; Banco de Sabadell, S.A.; Front Burner Restaurants.

News: Antitrust FranchisingDistribution