German Bundeskartellamt Updates

Apr 11, 2024

Hunter Douglas GmbH withdrew its acquisition notification of erfal GmbH & Co. KG due to competition concerns raised by the Bundeskartellamt, citing potential market dominance issues in the production of interior window coverings.

Apr 3, 2024

The Bundeskartellamt has approved the Land Berlin's acquisition of Vattenfall's district heating network in Berlin, with a focus on competition law implications.

Mar 25, 2024

The ICN Technologist Forum brought together representatives from digital markets and technologist teams to enhance the digital and technology capacities of competition agencies worldwide.

Mar 19, 2024

The Bundeskartellamt has successfully secured wider advertising options and social media usage for German athletes and their sponsors at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, following an administrative proceeding against the DOSB and IOC.

Mar 12, 2024

The Bundeskartellamt has fined Pfanner Schutzbekleidung GmbH for engaging in vertical price-fixing practices in the sale of protective clothing in Germany.

Mar 10, 2024

The Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court largely upheld the Bundeskartellamt's decision against Deutsche Bahn for abusing its market power in relation to mobility platforms, requiring DB to pay fees to the platforms for processing bookings and payments.

Feb 28, 2024

The 22nd International Conference on Competition, hosted by the Bundeskartellamt in Berlin from 29 February to 1 March 2024, will gather over 350 participants from 60 countries to discuss current issues in international competition law enforcement and policy.

Feb 25, 2024

The Bundeskartellamt has approved Deutsche Fußball Liga's marketing model for selling media rights to Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 matches from the 2025/26 season onwards, with certain conditions imposed to ensure competition.

Feb 5, 2024

The Bundeskartellamt has informed the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) and other parties involved in the 50+1 proceeding about the current stage and next steps, taking into consideration recent judgments by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the relation between sports association rules and competition law.

Jan 29, 2024

The Bundeskartellamt has given its preliminary approval to the marketing model proposed by Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) for the sale of media rights to Bundesliga matches from the 2025/26 season onwards.

Dec 27, 2023

The Rethmann Group has been identified as a clear market leader in the domestic waste collection and hollow glass processing sectors, prompting the Bundeskartellamt to consider imposing notification obligations on the company for future takeovers of smaller businesses.

Dec 19, 2023

The Bundeskartellamt is assessing Google's proposed solutions to address competition concerns regarding its Automotive Services, following objections about its bundling practices.

Dec 13, 2023

The Bundeskartellamt has fined 14 construction companies and 12 individuals a total of €4.8 million for engaging in illegal bid rigging over several years.

Dec 11, 2023

The Bundeskartellamt has approved REWE's acquisition of a 50% stake in beverage wholesaler Trinks, concluding that the deal will not harm competition.

Dec 4, 2023

The Bundeskartellamt has approved Hamelin Group's acquisition of Pelikan, concluding that the merger will not significantly hinder competition in the stationery market.

Nov 29, 2023

The Bundeskartellamt has conditionally approved Veolia's acquisition of Friedrich Hofmann's subsidiaries, requiring the sale of a disposal site to maintain competition in the waste management sector.

Nov 14, 2023

The Bundeskartellamt has determined that Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI does not require merger control notification in Germany, despite the significant investments made by Microsoft.

Nov 13, 2023

The Bundeskartellamt has initiated proceedings against Coca-Cola for potentially abusing its market position in Germany, particularly regarding its rebate structure with food retailers.

Nov 7, 2023

At the G7 competition summit in Tokyo, member states emphasized the need for robust competition laws in the digital sector, particularly focusing on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Nov 6, 2023

The German Competition Act has been amended to enhance the Bundeskartellamt's authority, allowing it to address competition malfunctions without prior legal violations.