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Conseil de la concurrence fines incumbent press distributors in France for anti-competitive rebate scheme

On 27 January, the French Conseil de la concurrence issued a decision to fine the incumbent press distributors in France - Nouvelles Messageries de Presse Parisienne (NMPP) and Société Auxiliaire pour l'Exploitation des Messageries Transports Presse (TP) - for offering loyalty rebates (which were retroactive in nature) to their clients, the newspapers. The complainant was the Messageries Lyonnaises de Presse (MLP), the only other competitor in the market.

The Conseil de la concurrence carried out an effects-based analysis. In particular, the Conseil assessed whether the whole demand could be contested by the competitor and whether the competitor was able to offer a tariff that would neutralize the rebates without incurring losses. The Conseil also investigated whether these rebates could have been justified by specific efficiency gains.

Laurent Flochel, from CRA's French office, advised MLP in this proceeding.

See Conseil de la Concurrence decision (in French).

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