About: merger control
Vestager tries to keep Illumina and GRAIL apart during merger investigation
After two US biotech companies, Illumina and GRAIL, defied the EU’s competition authority by closing a merger without waiting for the results of the EU’s investigation, the European Commission adopted on Friday (29 October) interim measures to ensure that the companies continue to be run as separate entities.
LEAK: Digital policies in the Commission’s 2022 work programme
A Cyber Resilience Act, a Chips Act, a European Media Freedom Act and initiatives to boost digital skills – the European Commission’s 2022 work programme, seen by EURACTIV, gives an insight into upcoming digital initiatives coming from Brussels.
Illumina/GRAIL: Testing Vestager’s effort to expand EU merger control
The controversial $7.1 billion acquisition of GRAIL by Illumina is developing into a test of the European Commission’s new guidance on merger control, but also of the EU's competition chief Margrethe Vestager's resolve to expand the bloc's supervision of such mergers.
French economy ministry wants to overhaul EU competition policies
The French Ministry of Economy wants to change competition practices and trade policy in Europe. Its proposals also aim to tackle new digital conglomerates. EURACTIV France reports.
EU clamps down on letter box firms’ tax avoidance, social dumping
The European Commission on Wednesday (25 April) proposed new rules to clamp down on firms that relocate within the EU for the purpose of cutting their tax bills, setting up mere letter box companies.
EU eyes corporate rules shake-up with law on seat transfer
The European Commission is preparing a new directive on the cross-border transfer of company seats, a move that could have far-reaching implications for other areas of corporate governance, including tax planning and cross-border mergers, EURACTIV has learned.EU Court rules against Spain in energy merger saga
The European Court of Justice has ruled against Spain's energy regulator, which previously succeeded in blocking a takeover attempt of Endesa by Germany's E.ON. Meanwhile, Brussels has said it will take a closer look at a blocked merger in Hungary's oil and gas sector.Google seeks to allay privacy fears over DoubleClick merger
The planned merger between Google and the leading provider of ad-serving tools, DoubleClick, will not involve the creation of a single database with consumer-related information, said Google's Privacy Counsel, Peter Fleischer, in a move aimed to allay growing privacy concerns in Europe.
Commission again clears music giants’ merger
The European Commission has cleared, for a second time and without imposing any 'remedies', the joint venture between music companies Sony and BMG, which had been set aside by the European Court of Justice in 2006.Commission grounds Ryanair’s bid for Aer Lingus
The Commission decided, on 27 June 2007, to prohibit low-fare airline Ryanair from taking over Ireland's formerly state-owned airline Aer Lingus, arguing that the merger would kill off competition and consumer choice.
E.ON drops Endesa bid amid protectionism concerns
The German energy giant dropped its €42.4 billion offer for Endesa, ending an 18-month battle that saw E.ON’s bid for the Spanish utility thwarted by repeated government intervention.
Music giants’ merger under renewed investigation
The Commission's anti-trust department has re-opened in-depth investigations into the merger of Sony and Bertelsmann BMG, which has created one of the largest music companies in the world.