Danish Authority warns 38 Venues on competition law violations

The Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen) has issued a warning to 38 municipal venues regarding the prohibition of agreements that restrict competition. This action follows a series of inspections and information gathering by the Authority at several of these venues. Initial investigations of the collected material suggest that these venues may have coordinated on pricing for buying and selling, as well as other contractual terms, and divided markets among themselves. Furthermore, the material indicates that the venues may have shared sensitive competitive information, including within ERFA groups or purchasing collaborations. As a result, the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has decided to reinforce the competition rules for these venues. This reinforcement includes guidance on the competition regulations and emphasizes that businesses must ensure their actions comply with these rules. The Authority has also decided not to pursue the matter further at this time. Therefore, no decision has been made regarding the legality of the venues` behavior. The Authority determined that a more thorough investigation would require substantial additional resources, and that competition in the market could be strengthened sufficiently through this advisory warning. However, the decision to close the case does not preclude the Authority from reopening it if new information arises.