Competition

Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition to Adopt Block Exemption Decision for Certain Categories Agreements and Concerted Practices with Effect on National Markets

On 30 November 2023 Bulgarian Commission for Protection of Competition (the “CPC”) finally published draft of new decision on group exemption of certain categories of agreements, decisions and concerted practices with effect on national markets (the ”Draft”), such as: vertical agreements and practices, agreements and practices in the motor vehicle sector, specialisation and R&D agreements and practices as well as agreements for transfer of technologies, from the ban under article 15 (1) of the Competition Protection Act (the “CPA”). The latter reflects article 101 (1) of the TFEU.

Record Fine To META

With its announcement dated 10.01.2024, the Competition Authority imposed an administrative fine of TL 4,796,152.96 per day (on the basis of its gross revenues in 2022) on META Economic Unity commencing from 12.12.2023 until the Final Compliance Remedy is submitted to the Competition Authority.

Turkish Competition Authority Published the M&A Overview Report for 2023

The Communiqué No. 2010/4 (the "Communiqué") requires approval of the Competition Board (the "Board") on mergers, acquisitions and privatisation transactions that fall within its scope in order for those to be legally valid. The Turkish Competition Authority releases data relating to transactions requiring the Board’s clearance and examines those transactions in an annual report. In this respect, the transactions reviewed by the Board in 2023 were disclosed to public on January 5, 2024 through the Mergers and Acquisitions Overview Report (the "Report") [available in Turkish only].

Sam Baldwin Makes Partner at Szecskay Attorneys at Law

Sam MacMahon Baldwin has been promoted to a Partner position with Szecskay Attorneys at Law in Budapest.

Wojciech Kulczyk and Krzysztof Sikorski Make Partner at WKB Lawyers

Attorneys-at-Law Wojciech Kulczyk and Krzysztof Sikorski have been elevated to Partner positions with WKB Lawyers at the start of 2024.

Antitrust Reform in Ukraine: The Stage is Set

In early September of this year, the President of Ukraine signed the Law “On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Legislation on Protection of Economic Competition and Activities of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine” (the “Law”).

Polish Competition Authority Punishes Non-Compliant Influencers and Looks for Greenwashing

The Polish Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) has devoted the last two years to the very important issue of influencers and their online advertising activities. Recent years have seen a significant development of influencer marketing not only in Poland but on a global scale. Across the world, companies and advertising agencies have noticed the growing popularity of celebrity accounts on Facebook or Instagram, and have strategically used them as a new channel to promote products or services.