Competition Law

Foreign Subsidies Regulation JD.com/CECONOMY referred to phase II under the FSR The Commission has, under Regulation 2022/2560 on foreign subsidies that distort the internal market (the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR)), referred the proposed acquisition of CECONOMY AG (CECONOMY) by JD.com, Inc. (JD.com) (FS.100253). JD.com, with its registered office in the Cayman Islands, is a holding entity overseeing a group that runs retail operations and an e-commerce marketplace in China, and also delivers logistics and technological solutions. CECONOMY is a German retailer active in physical stores and online channels, specialising in consumer electronics and household appliances......

On 30 April 2026, the Commission unveiled draft updated Merger Guidelines and launched a public consultation. The proposal supersedes the 2004 Horizontal and 2008 Non‑Horizontal Merger Guidelines, constituting the most far‑reaching overhaul of EU merger control guidance in two decades. It reflects a shifted geopolitical and trade landscape, where scale, global competitiveness, innovation, investment, sustainability and resilience are weighed more overtly in merger reviews. Against this setting, the Commission has pursued change. President von der Leyen cast the move in competitiveness terms, saying the Guidelines are intended to better help companies grow, scale and innovate, so they can respond to a fiercely competitive global economy and enhance Europe’s competitiveness, while maintaining the predictability and certainty investors prize in Europe. For dealmakers, the signal is even‑handed: the Commission shows greater receptiveness to robustly evidenced efficiencies from scale and innovation, yet it remains intent on...

Mergers The expected joint enterprise involving Suzano International Holding B.V. won CMA approval... ...

1. What is the applicable legislation? The main legislation applicable to foreign investment comprises Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority Law 116/2013 (FDI Law 2013) together with Ministerial Decision 502/2014 issuing the Executive Regulations to implement Law 116/2013 on promoting direct investment in the State of Kuwait. Beyond these core FDI instruments, several other enactments may apply depending on how the investment is structured. Chief among these are the Companies Law 1/2016, the Capital Markets Authority Law 7/2010, and the Commercial Agencies Law 13/2016, alongside their respective executive regulations. In broad terms, Kuwait’s FDI framework is still relatively undeveloped. The system largely follows a traditional model for supervising foreign investment, concentrating on prohibiting non-nationals from conducting or funding certain activities, or on imposing heightened regulatory obligations on overseas investors. A comprehensive FDI screening mechanism, of the type found in many EU...

1. What is the applicable legislation? Pakistan is a federation in which certain subjects are devolved to the provinces, while others remain under the legislative competence of the federal government. Following the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of 1973, the Federal Legislative List identifies the subjects on which the federation is competent to legislate, with other matters legislated by the provinces. The scope of this Q&A is limited to the overall investment regime applicable to foreign investors, with a primary focus on federal legislation. Sectoral and provincial laws may apply in addition to those referenced below, and it is pivotal to obtain professional advice tailored to the nature of the investment being made. Pakistan’s investment policy framework is generally open to foreign investment and, subject to sector‑specific prohibitions/restrictions and licensing requirements, foreign investments do not generally undergo pre‑screening and approval merely because they are foreign. The main laws are as...

Introduction This Practice Note provides an overview of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) guidance on how the Chapter I prohibition in the Competition Act 1998 (CA 1998) applies to horizontal agreements (the Horizontal Guidance). The Horizontal Guidance supersedes the European Commission Guidelines on Horizontal Cooperation Agreements, which no longer have effect in the UK. Where relevant, this Practice Note also signposts the Competition Act 1998 (Vertical Agreements Block Exemption) Order 2022 (VABEO) and the CMA’s guidance on that regime (VABEO Guidance). NOTE-The Horizontal Guidance contains a high-level outline of the block exemptions for research and development (R&D) and specialisation agreements, which took effect on 1 January 2023. These exemptions are only summarised in this Practice Note. Sustainability is excluded from the Horizontal Guidance; it is addressed in separate guidance and is not covered here. What is a horizontal agreement? A ‘horizontal agreement’ is a pact between...

This AGREEMENT is entered into on the [ insert date ] day of [ insert month ] [ insert year ] Parties [ Party 1 ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] (registered number [ insert number ]), whose registered office is at [ insert address ]; [ Party 2 ], a company incorporated in [ England and Wales ] (registered number [ insert number ]), whose registered office is at [ insert address ]. Together, [ Party 1 ] and [ Party 2 ] are referred to as the parties, and each as a party. 1 Introduction 1.1 [ Party 1 ] and [ Party 2 ] are engaging in discussions concerning [ description of transaction ] (the Proposed Transaction). 1.2 Each party acknowledges it will need access to Competitively Sensitive Information (as defined below) of the other party for the...

Meetings with competitors carry a high competition law risk. Kindly complete this form and promptly send it to [ insert, eg the legal team ] before attending any meeting or event where a rival is present. You should obtain advice from [ insert, eg the legal team ] if you have any queries or worries......

Risk assessment date [ Insert date ] Individual(s) completing the risk assessment [ Insert name(s) and job title(s) ] 1 Meeting details Scheduled meeting date [ Insert date ] Purpose of the meeting planned [ Insert details ] Anticipated attendee(s) from this organisation [ Insert name(s) of individual(s) expected to attend from our organisation ] Anticipated attendee(s) from other organisation(s) [ Insert name(s) of organisation(s) and/or individual(s) from other organisation(s) expected to attend ] 2 Assessment Risk [ Insert, eg Actions of attendees from our organisation ]......