Competition & Antitrust

Recent matters DGKV’s Competition team has worked on include:

 

• Advising Apple Inc. and its subsidiary, Apple Distribution International Ltd, in an investigation initiated by the Commission for the Protection of Competition regarding an alleged abuse of superior bargaining position by Apple Inc. vis-a-vis the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company regarding the supply and distribution of smartphones in Bulgaria.
• Representing Aurubis Bulgaria AD in proceedings before the CPC with respect to its investigation of alleged horizontal price coordination and abuse of dominant position on the market of supply of sulphuric acid.
• Representing Nikon Europe B.V. in an investigation launched by the CPC into an alleged abuse of dominant position and prohibited practices in vertical agreements with regard to the structuring of its selective distribution system in Bulgaria for professional and semi-professional products, supply of spare parts, and designation of authorized service centers and repair shops.
• Representing OMV Bulgaria OOD in an investigation by the CPC with respect to an alleged horizontal price-fixing cartel on the retail market for gasoline and diesel fuel and in multiple other competition-related proceedings before the CPC and Bulgarian courts, as well as providing ongoing advice on competition compliance.
• Advising Visa Europe on antitrust and unfair competition rules applicable to local operations and relations with merchant banks and assisting with compliance screening of advertising and promotional activities.
• Providing competition-law advice to Devnya Cement – part of the Heidelbergcement Group – with regard to its production and sales activities as well as providing compliance trainings and dawn-raid mock trainings, drafting various operational policies and guidelines for relations with consumers and other market actors and for conducting the company’s core business.
• Representing Acibadem Sağlık Hizmetleri ve Ticaret A.Ş. in merger-control procedures related to the parallel acquisition of Tokushukai-Sofia EOOD and its subsidiaries and of City Hospitals and Clinics AD and its subsidiaries.
• Representing Sandoz  before the Bulgarian competition authority with regard to its acquisition of the cephalosporins business of GlaxoSmithKline and successful application for merger clearance.
• Advising Pfizer HCP and Pfizer Luxembourg SARL in antitrust proceedings before the CPC and the Supreme Administrative Court for an alleged abuse of dominance position and anti-competitive concerted practice.
• Advising Aspen on various issues related to the structuring of distribution activities and regulatory and antitrust compliance.
• Advising Mayoral Moda Infantil S.A.U. and Mayoral Bulgaria in proceedings against them initiated by a commercial partner alleging an abuse of superior bargaining position and alleged infringement of competition rules through prohibited vertical agreements imposing rules on periods of promotion and RPM.