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Select Committee on European Union Minutes of Evidence

Supplementary memorandum by Michel Petite, Director General, Legal Services, and Philip Lowe, Director General, DG Competition

MERGER CASES (1 JANUARY 1990—31 DECEMBER 2006)

1.  GENERAL

  Of 3,266 notified cases (1990-2006):

10 JANUARY 2007

    —    Net balance of referrals: 37 (referrals from COM to MS: 56, from MS to COM 93).

    —    Withdrawn: 103.

    —    Phase I decisions: 2,989 (without 6.1.c decisions):

    —  52 outside scope of merger regulation (6.1.a);

    —  2,797 authorisation without conditions (6.1.b non-simplified and simplified);

    —  140 authorisation with conditions (6.1.b remedies).

    —    Phase II decisions: 130:

    —  32 authorisation without conditions (8.1);

    —  79 authorisation with conditions (8.2);

    —  19 prohibition (and 4 orders to restore competition) (8.3).

  Of 19 prohibition decisions three contested by expedited procedure:

    —    two annulled (Tetra 10m, Schneider 10m), one upheld (EDP 7m);

    —    six contested by normal procedure: two annulled (Airtours, MCI as particular case), four upheld (Endemol, GE, Kesko, Gencor);

    —    10 not contested (Haviland, MSG Media Service, Nordic Satellite, St Gobain, Blokker, Bertelsmann Kirch, Deutsche Telekom, Volvo-Scania, SCA Metsa-Tissue, CVC Lenzing).

  Of the 219 authorisations with conditions:

    —    Some eight were contested (Air France-KLM (Easyjet), Cementbouw, BSkyB, Total-Elf, SEB-Moulinex, Kali&Saltz, Verbund EnergieAllianz, and Nestle« Perrier), of which two annuled (Kali&Saltz, SEB-Moulinex), others upheld;

    —    (not in the number is a more recent case Omya);

    —    Thus some 210 remained, so far, uncontested.

  Of the 2,829 authorisations without conditions:

    —    One was contested under expedited procedure (Sony-BMG by Impala 22m): annulled;

    —    Some four were contested under not expedited procedure: upheld (note: one, Coca-Cola, contested by the merging party for reasoning).

2.  INDIVIDUAL CASES (SELECTED CASES MENTIONED BEFORE THE LORDS)

2.1  Omya

  Authorisation with conditions, but after suspension (stopping the clock) because lack of information.

  Two cases pending:

    —    annulment of suspension decision;

    —    annulment of conditions.

2.2  Oracle-Peoplesoft

  Not contested before CFI.

  Authorisation decision.

  Suspension of delays for lack of information.

  (NB: parallel case was ongoing in the US).

2.3  MCI

  Prohibition decision, at the same moment the applicant had withdrawn the case.

  Contested before the CFI: annulled only because there was no valid merger any longer, not decided on merits.

2.4  Airtours

  Prohibition decision.

  Prohibition decision.

  Contested under expedited procedure.

  Commission decision annulled.

  Damages action pending.

2.5  Schneider

  Prohibition decision.

  Contested under expedited procedure.

  Commission decision annulled.

  Withdrawn during second administrative procedure (opening of phase II).

  (second Court case on the opening of phase II still pending before ECJ, Commission upheld by CFI).

  Damages action still pending (CFI).

2.6  Tetra

  Prohibition decision.

  Contested under expedited procedure.

  Commission decision annulled.

  Re-notified and authorised in second administrative procedure (phase I).

2.7  EDP

  Prohibition decision.

  Contested under expedited procedure (7m).

  Commission decision upheld.

2.8  Cementbouw

  Authorisation with (heavy) conditions.

  Contested under not-expedited procedure.

  Commission decision upheld.

2.9  SEB-Moulinex (Babylyss)

  Partially conditional authorisation, partially reference to national authority.

  Contested by two competitors with non expedited procedure

  Authorisation annulled, referral upheld.

  Second administrative procedure: authorised.

2.10  AF-KLM (easyJet)

  Authorisation with conditions (phase I).

  Contested by competitor under not-expedited procedure.

  Commission decision upheld.

2.11  Sony-BMG (Impala)

  Authorisation without conditions.

  Contested under expedited procedure (22m).

  Commission decision annulled.

  Second administrative procedure ongoing.
court outcome annulmentdismissed totalannulment in % dismissed in %
6.1.a02 20100
6.1.b22 45050
6.1.c00 000
6.2 cond02 20100
8.210 11000
8.2 cond35 83862
8.345 94456
8.420 21000
damages00 000
art 1400 000
art 2101 10100
other*15 61783
appeal order CFI00 000


APPEAL BY PARTY
Court Number Court Case EC Decision EC Case Court Status Appeal by Judgement Date Appeal Duration
T-96/92 PERRIER v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.190 NESTLE / PERRIER Rejected Party 27/04/1992 05/11/1992 30.1
T-87/96 ASSICURAZIONI GENERALI v COMMISSION 6.1.a M.711GENERALI / UNICREDITO Rejected Party 04/03/1999 05/06/1996 33.4
T 102/96 GENCOR v COMMISSION 8.3 M.619 GENCOR / LONRHO Rejected Party 25/03/1999 28/06/1996 33.3
T-52/96 SOGECABLE v COMMISSION Withdrawn N2 M.709 TELEFONICA / SOGECABLE / CABLEVISION Withdrawn Party Removed from the register on 14/10/1996
T-22/97 KESKO OY v COMMISSION 8.3, 8.4 M.784 KESKO / TUKO Rejected Party 15/12/1999 25/04/1997 32.1
T-125/97 COCA-COLA COMPANY v COMMISSION 8.2 M.794 COCA-COLA ENT./AMALGAMATED BEVERAGES GB Irrecevable Party 22/03/2000 22/04/1997 35.5
T-127/97 COCA-COLA ENTERPRISES v COMMISSION 8.2 M.794 COCA-COLA ENT./AMALGAMATED BEVERAGES GB Irrecevable Party 22/03/2000 22/04/1997 35.5
T-134/97 KESKO v COMMISSION 8.3, 8.4 M.784 KESKO / TUKO Withdrawn Party Removed from the register on 09/10/1997
T-342/99 AIRTOURS PLC v COMMISSION 8.3 M.1524 AIRTOURS / FIRST CHOICE Annulment Party 06/06/2002 02/12/1999 30.6
T-251/00 LAGARDE"RE SCA v COMMISSION 6.1.b (JV) JV.40_CANAL+ / LAGARDERE / CANALSATELLITE Annulment Party 20/11/2002 15/09/2000 26.5
T-310/00 WORLDCOM v COMMISSION 8.3 M.1741 MCI WORLDCOM / SPRINT Annulment Party 28/09/2004 29/09/2000 48.7
T-29/00 DEUTSCHE POST AG v COMMISSION art. 14 M.1611 DEUTSCHE POST / DANZAS Withdrawn Party Removed from the register on 15/02/2001
T-310/01 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SA v COMMISSION (Dec. 8.3) 8.3 M.2283 SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND Annulment Party 22/10/2002 13/12/2001 10.4
C-42/01 REPUBLIC OF PORTUGAL v COMMISSION (Art.230 EC) 21 + A / W M.2054 SECIL / HOLDERBANK / CIMPOR Rejected Party 22/06/2004 01/02/2001 41.2
T-209/01 HONEYWELL v COMMISSION 8.3 M.2220 GENERAL ELECTRIC / HONEYWELL Dismissed Party 14/12/2005 12/10/2001 50.8
T-210/01 GENERAL ELECTRIC v COMMISSION 8.3 M.2220 GENERAL ELECTRIC / HONEYWELL Dismissed Party 14/12/2005 12/10/2001 50.8
C-157/01 GERMANY v COMMISSION and UK Coal Plc 66 ECSC.1252 RAG / SAARBERGWERKE / PREUSSAG ANTHRAZIT Withdrawn Party Removed from the register on 17/07/2003
C-169/01 RAG v COMMISSION and UK Coal Plc 66 ECSC.1252 RAG / SAARBERGWERKE / PREUSSAG ANTHRAZIT Withdrawn Party Removed from the register on 17/07/2003
T-77/02 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SA v COMMISSION (Dec. 8.4) 8.4 M.2283 SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND Annulment Party 22/10/2002 18/03/2002 7.3
T-5/02 TETRA LAVAL v COMMISSION (Dec. 8.3) 8.3 M.2416 TETRA LAVAL / SIDEL Annulment Party 25/10/2002 17/01/2002 9.4
T-80/02 TETRA LAVAL BV v COMMISSION (Dec. 8.4) 8.4 M.2416 TETRA LAVAL / SIDEL Annulment Party 25/10/2002 19/03/2002 7.3
T-282/02 CEMENTBOUW HANDEL & INDUSTRIE BV v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2650_HANIEL / CEMENTBOUW / JV (CVK) Dismissed Party 23/02/2006 04/10/2002 41.3
T-295/02 KON. BAM NBM BV v COMMISSION 6(1)(b) M.2881_KONINKLIJKE BAM NBM / HBG Withdrawn Party Removed from the register on 13/12/2002
T-48/03 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC S.A. v COMMISSION 6(1)(c) M.2283 SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND Irreceivable Party 31/01/2006 10/02/2003 36.2
T-212/03 MY TRAVEL v COMMISSION Damages M.1524 AIRTOURS / FIRST CHOICE Pending Party
T-351/03 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SA v COMMISSION Damages M.2283 SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND Pending Party
T-87/05 EDP vs. Commission 8(3) M.3440_ENI / EDP / GDP Rejected Party 21/09/2005 10/03/2005 6.5
T-417/05 R ENDESA vs. COMMISSION request for interim measures M.3986_GAS NATURAL / ENDESA Rejected Party 01/02/2006 01/12/2005 2.1
T-417/05 ENDESA vs. COMMISSION 2/3 rules M.3986_GAS NATURAL / ENDESA Rejected Party 14/07/2006 15/03/2006 4.0
C-122/06 P ENDESA vs. COMMISSION appeal against order of president on interim measures M.3986_GAS NATURAL / ENDESA Withdrawn Party Removed from register on 14/06/2006
C-188/06 P SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SA vs COMMISSION appeal against order of CFI on T-48/03 M.2283 SCHNEIDER / LEGRAND Pending Party
C-202/06 P CEMENTBOUW HANDEL & INDUSTRIE BV vs COMMISSION appeal against order of CFI on T-282/02 M.2650_HANIEL / CEMENTBOUW / JV (CVK) Pending Party  
T-145/06 OMYA AG vs EUROPEAN COMMISSION Article 11 decision of 8 March 2006 M.3796_OMYA / J.M. HUBER PCC Pending Party
T-275/06 OMYA AG vs EUROPEAN COMMISSION Article 8(2) decision M.3796_OMYA / J.M. HUBER PCC Pending Party
    average 27,3
                average 7,3


APPEAL BY THIRD PARTY
Court Number Court Case EC Decision EC Case Court Status Appeal by Judgement Date Appeal Duration
T-83/92 ZUNIS / FINAN / MASSINVEST v COMMISSION 6.1.a M.159_MEDIOBANCA / GENERALI Irrecevable Third party 28/10/1993 30/09/1992 13.1
T-3/93 AIR FRANCE v COMMISSION 6.1.b M.278 BRITISH AIRWAYS / DAN AIR Rejected Third party 24/03/1994 05/01/1993 14.8
T-2/93 AIR FRANCE v COMMISSION 6.2 M.259 BRITISH AIRWAYS / TAT Rejected Third party 19/05/1994 05/01/1993 16.6
T-12/93 VITTEL / PIERVAL / F D.GEN.AGROALIM. / GR.SOURCES v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.190 NESTLE / PERRIER Rejected Third party 27/04/1995 05/02/1993 27.0
C-480/93 P ZUNIS HOLDING, FINAN, HASSINVEST v COMMISSION 6.1.a M.159_MEDIOBANCA / GENERALI Rejected Third party 11/01/1996 10/05/1993 32.5
T-290/94 KAYSERBERG v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.430 PROCTER & GAMBLE / VP SCHICKEDANZ (II) Rejected Third party 27/11/1997 19/09/1994 38.8
C-68/94 Kali + Salz (R PUBLIQUE FRANA"ISE v COMMISSION) 8.2 with cond.,6.1.b M.308 KALI + SALZ / MDK / TREUHAND Annulment Third party 31/03/1998 18/02/1994 50.1
T-88/94 ENTR. MINI RE ET CHIMIQUE v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.308 KALI + SALZ / MDK / TREUHAND See C-30/95 Third party no judgment; Orders of 10/05/1994, 15/06/1994, and 01/02/1995
T-322/94 UNION CARBIDE v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond., 8.2 M.269 SHELL / MONTECATINI Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 25/02/1999
C-30/95 Kali + Salz (ENTREPRISE MINI RE ET CHIMIQUE v COMMISSION) 8.2 with cond.,6.1.b M.308 KALI + SALZ / MDK / TREUHAND Annulment Third party 31/03/1999 01/01/1994 51.7
T-221/95 ENDEMOL v COMMISSION 8.3, 8.2 with cond. M.553 -RTL / VERONICA / ENDEMOL (`HMG') Rejected Third party 28/04/1999 04/12/1995 41.4
T-153/96 UNION CARBIDE v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.269 SHELL/MONTECATINI Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 25/02/1999    
T-8/97 UNION CARBIDE v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond., 8.2 M.269 SHELL / MONTECATINI Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 25/02/1999    
T-156/98 RJB MINING v COMMISSION 66 ECSC.1252 RAG / SAARBERGWERKE / PREUSSAG ANTHRAZIT Annulment Third party 31/01/2001 29/09/1998 28.5
T-121/98 TAURUS BETEILIGUNGS GMBH & CO KG v COMMISSION 8.3 M.993 BERTELSMANN / KIRCH / PREMIERE Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 29/09/2000
T-342/00 MIRABELLIER v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.1628 TOTALFINA / ELF AQUITAINE Rejected Third party 03/04/2003 13/11/2000 29.0
T-374/00 VERBAND DER FREIEN ROHRWERKE e.a v COMMISSION 66 ECSC.1336 SALZGITTER / MANNESMANNRO­HREN-WERKE Rejected Third party 08/07/2003 11/12/2000 31.3
T-374/00 VERBAND DER FREIEN ROHRWERKE e.a. v COMMISSION 6.1.b M.2045 SALZGITTER / MANNESMANNRO­HREN-WERKE Irrecevable Third party 08/07/2003 11/12/2000 31.3
T-158/00 ARD v COMMISSION 6.2 with cond. JV.37_B SKY B / KIRCH PAY TV Rejected Third party 30/09/2003 30/06/2000 39.6
T-114/02 BABYLISS v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2621 SEB / MOULINEX Annulment Third party 03/04/2003 15/04/2002 11.8
T-119/02 ROYAL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2621 SEB / MOULINEX Irrecevable Third party 03/04/2003 17/04/2002 11.7
T-346/02 CABLEUROPA v COMMISSION 9.4 full referral M.2845 SOGECABLE / CANALSATELLITE DIGITAL / VIA DIGITAL Annulment Third party 30/09/2003 22/11/2002 10.4
T-347/02 AUNACABLE SAU et al v COMMISSION 9.4 full referral M.2845 SOGECABLE / CANALSATELLITE DIGITAL / VIA DIGITAL Annulment Third party 30/09/2003 22/11/2002 10.4
T-100/02 EVC INTERNATIONAL NV v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2389 SHELL / DEA Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 02/12/2002
T-99/02 INEOS NV v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2389 SHELL / DEA Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 02/12/2002
T-101/02 INEOS NV v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2533 BP / E.ON Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 02/12/2002
T-102/02 EVC INTERNATIONAL v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2533 BP / E.ON Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 02/12/2002
T-103/02 INEOS PHENOS GmbH & Co KG v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2533 BP / E.ON Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 19/06/2003
T-443/03 RETECAL SOC. OP. DE TELECOMUNIACIONES DE CASTILLA Y LEON v. COMMISSION   M.2845 SOGECABLE / CANALSATELLITE DIGITAL / VIA DIGITAL Rejected Third party 25/05/2006 31/12/2003 17.0
T-145/03 FESTIVAL CROCIERE v COMMISSION 6(1)(b) M.3071 CARNIVAL CORPORATION / P&O PRINCESS (II) Withdrawn ? Third party applicant bankrupt
T-163/03 SCANIA v. COMMISSION 6.2 with cond M.1980 VOLVO / RENAULT V.I. Withdrawn Third party  
T-269/03 SOCRATEC v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2903 DAIMLERCHRYSLER / DEUTSCHE TELEKOM / JV Pending Third party  
T-350/03 WK KA­RNTEN ET AL v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2947 VERBUND / ENERGIE ALLIANZ Rejected Third party 18/09/2006 15/10/2003 35.6
T-180/03 AUNA OPERADORES DE TELECOMUNICACIONES v COMMISSION 6(1)(a) putative M.2845_SOGECABLE / CANALSATELLITE DIGITAL / VIA DIGITAL Withdrawn Third party Removed from the register on 04/12/2003
T-248/04 SCANIA v. COMMISSION 6.2 with cond. M.1980_VOLVO / RENAULT V.I. Withdrawn Third party
T-48/04 QUALCOMM v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.2903_DAIMLERCHRYSLER / DEUTSCHE TELEKOM / JV Pending Third party
T-279/04 EDITIONS ODILE JACOB v COMMISSION   M.2978_LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP Pending Third party
T-452/04 EDITIONS ODILE JACOB (II) v COMMISSION   M.2978_LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP Pending Third party
T-177/04 EASYJET v COMMISSION 8.2 with cond. M.3280_AIR FRANCE / KLM Dismissed Third party 04/07/2006 314/05/2004 26.0
T-464/04 Impala v COMMISSION 8.2 M.3333_Sony / BMG Annulment Third party 13/07/2006 03/12/2004 19.6
T-237/05 EDITIONS ODILE JACOB (III) v COMMISSION appeal against refusal of acces to documents M.2978_LAGARDERE / NATEXIS / VUP Pending Third party
T-151/05 NVV et al vs. Commission 6(1)(b) M.3605_SOVION / HMG Pending Third party
T-41/06 POLAND vs. COMMISSION   M.3894_UNICREDITO / HVB Pending Third party
T-89/06 DANIEL LEBARD vs COMMISSION Decision by Commission to close M.1378 and refusal by Mr Barroso to revoke decision in M.1517 M.1378_HOECHST / RHONE POULENC + M.1517_RHODIA / DONAU CHEMIE / ALBRIGHT & WILSON Pending Third party
T-200/06 IBERDROLA vs EUROPEAN COMMISSION 6(1)b M.4110_E.ON / ENDESA Pending Third party
T-282/06 Sun Chemical Group / Siegwerk Druckfarben / Flint Group Germany vs Commission 6(1)b M.4071_APOLLO / AKZO NOBEL IAR Pending Third party
                average 26,7

 
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