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Banana importation: |
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RBB advised Fyffes/Interweichart, one of the major banana suppliers, during the European Commission’s Article 101 investigation of alleged coordinated behaviour achieved through bilateral exchanges of information. RBB experts prepared an expert report providing extensive empirical analysis and also provided oral evidence at the Commission’s Hearing on this matter. The economic analysis was instrumental in persuading the Commission to drop one part of its case and significantly to reduce fines in the other. |
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LCD investigation: |
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RBB advised one of the main Asian-based manufacturers involved in the investigation by the European Commission into alleged collusion and information sharing in the LCD industry. The Commission chose not to issue our client with an SO. |
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Airline alliances: |
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RBB acted for British Airways, American Airways and Iberia in connection with Article 101 investigations by the European Commission into the airlines’ collaboration on trans-Atlantic routes. This assignment involved extensive empirical analysis of the efficiency benefits and the alleged adverse impacts of such coordination. |
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Bathroom fittings: |
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RBB acted for a respondent to the European Commission’s investigation of horizontal practices in the markets for bathroom fittings and fixtures in several member states. We prepared a detailed expert report which was submitted to the Commission as part of the client’s response to the Statement of Objections and RBB experts provided evidence at an oral hearing. |
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Organic peroxides: |
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RBB advised a purchaser of organic peroxides during various private damages actions brought against participants in the long running European organic peroxides cartel. RBB provided a quantification of the effect of the cartel that was used in support of litigation in the German courts. |
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Mechanical and carbon graphite: |
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RBB advised a member of the graphite cartel identified by the Commission’s 2003 decision in respect of its potential exposure to follow-on claims for private damages. |
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Slaughterhouses, Ireland: |
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RBB was appointed by the Competition Authority to act as its economic experts in a case against the Irish beef slaughterhouse industry. The case involved a High Court challenge by the Authority against an industry rationalisation scheme that would reduce capacity and impose an output-based levy on the remaining plants. An expert report was submitted to the High Court in Dublin and an RBB Partner was called to defend that report under cross-examination. |
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Milk processing, South Africa: |
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RBB advised the Competition Appeals Tribunal in connection with an alleged market-sharing arrangement between the two main processors of milk in South Africa. Our role included providing assistance to the Tribunal in assessing the merits of the case and developing the required economic analysis. |
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Generic pharmaceuticals, UK: |
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RBB acted for a UK subsidiary of pharmaceuticals company Merck in relation to litigation in the English courts following an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the UK Department of Health into alleged collusion in the supply of generic medicines to the National Health Service. Our work included detailed empirical assessment of the possible impact of the allegations, presentation of results and discussions with the Department of Health’s legal team and economic experts in the context of settlement discussions. |
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Baby food, Italy: |
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RBB advised Heinz in connection with an investigation by the Italian authorities into alleged manipulation of the market for baby milk products in Italy. Our analysis on this case, which was presented at an oral hearing before the authority, focused on the impact that the specific regulatory and distribution arrangements operating in Italy had on price setting in the Italian market. |
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TV sports rights: |
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RBB has advised the English Premier League (and a number of other sports rights bodies) in connection with investigations by regulatory bodies into the economic effects of collective selling of TV rights, evaluating both the pro-competitive case for such coordination and the alleged theories of harm arising from the practice. |
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