The Competition Bureau released its model timing agreement for merger reviews involving claimed efficiencies. The model comes with guidance for businesses and their legal counsel on the bureau’s general approach to the analysis of efficiency claims made by merging parties in defence of a merger that is likely to harm competition. Merging parties are expected to enter … Read more
Facebook Inc. will pay a $9-million penalty after the Competition Bureau concluded that the company made false or misleading claims about the privacy of Canadians’ personal information on Facebook and Messenger. Facebook will also pay an additional $500,000 for the costs of the bureau’s investigation. The payments are part of a settlement registered with the Competition Tribunal in which Facebook … Read more
Following legal action by the Competition Bureau, NuvoCare Health Sciences Inc. and its President and CEO Ryan Foley have agreed to enter into a temporary consent agreement that prohibits them from making unsubstantiated weight loss and fat burning claims in the marketing of certain natural health products, including ‘WeightOFF Max!’ and ‘Forskolin Nx’. The agreement will … Read more
The Competition Bureau is warning all businesses against making false or misleading claims that their products and services can prevent, treat or cure COVID-19. The bureau is actively monitoring the marketplace and taking action to stop potentially deceptive claims that could give Canadians a false impression that products or services can treat COVID-19 infections or protect … Read more
The Competition Bureau closed an investigation into scrap metal processor American Iron & Metal Company Inc.’s acquisition of Total Metal Recovery (TMR) Inc. after concluding the transaction is not likely to substantially lessen or prevent competition. Following a thorough investigation of the facts, the Bureau found that TMR was a failing firm whose assets were … Read more
The Competition Bureau released information on the first merger review to make use of its draft model timing agreement for mergers involving claimed efficiencies. The details appear in a position statement that outlines the analysis conducted by the Bureau while it investigated Canadian National Railway Company’s proposed acquisition of H&R Transport Limited in 2019. The bureau’s investigation concluded that the … Read more
The Competition Bureau of Canada issued the following statement: “The Competition Bureau recognizes that the exceptional circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic may call for the rapid establishment of business collaborations of limited duration and scope to ensure the supply of products and services that are critical to Canadians […] The Bureau therefore wishes to signal that … Read more
After two months of active investigation, the Competition Bureau announced that it is closing an inquiry after Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical Inc. addressed its concerns. This is the second time the bureau has looked into branded pharmaceutical companies’ refusals to supply samples of brand name drugs – also known as Canadian Reference Products – to generic manufacturers. Shortly after … Read more
The Competition Bureau announced that in 2020 the pre-merger notification threshold relating to transaction size will remain unchanged from the current threshold of $96 million set in 2019. Under the Competition Act mergers of all sizes and in all sectors of the economy are subject to review by the Commissioner of Competition. The full release is available online. … Read more
The Competition Bureau has concluded its review of the proposed merger between United Technologies Corp. and Raytheon Company and has issued a No Action Letter (NAL) to the companies. The NAL confirms that the Bureau will not challenge the proposed merger at this time. The terms of the NAL are subject to the implementation of the settlement … Read more
