BOOK IV: Free pricing and competition.

I. – The Autorité de la concurrence shall decide on the merger within twenty-five working days from the date of receipt of the complete notification. II. – The parties to the transaction may undertake to take measures designed in particular to remedy, where appropriate, the anti-competitive effects of the transaction either when the transaction is notified or at any time before the expiry of the period of twenty-five working days…

When a merger is the subject of an in-depth review pursuant to the last paragraph of III of Article L. 430-5, the Autorité de la concurrence examines whether it is likely to harm competition, in particular by creating or strengthening a dominant position or by creating or strengthening purchasing power that places suppliers in a situation of economic dependence. It assesses whether the transaction makes a sufficient contribution to economic…

I. – Where a merger is the subject of an in-depth review, the Competition Authority shall take a decision within sixty-five working days of the opening of the review. II. – After being informed of the opening of an in-depth review pursuant to the last paragraph of III of Article L. 430-5, the parties may propose commitments likely to remedy the anti-competitive effects of the transaction. Where commitments or amendments…

I. – Within five working days of the date on which it received the decision of the Competition Authority or was informed of it pursuant to Article L. 430-5, the Minister responsible for the economy may ask the Autorité de la concurrence for an in-depth examination of the transaction under the conditions set out in Articles L. 430-6 and L. 430-7. II. – Within a period of twenty-five working days…

I. – If a merger has been implemented without being notified, the Autorité de la concurrence shall enjoin under penalty, within the limit provided for in II of Article L. 464-2, the parties to notify the transaction, unless they revert to the pre-merger state. The procedure set out in Articles L. 430-5 to L. 430-7 then applies. In addition, the authority may impose a financial penalty on the persons responsible…

The Competition Authority may, in the event of abuse of a dominant position or a state of economic dependence, enjoin, by reasoned decision, the undertaking or group of undertakings in question to amend, supplement or terminate, within a specified period, all agreements and all acts by which the concentration of economic power which made the abuse possible was achieved, even if these acts were the subject of the procedure provided…

When questioning third parties about the transaction, its effects and the commitments proposed by the parties, and making their decision public under conditions laid down by decree, the Autorité de la concurrence and the minister responsible for the economy shall take into account the legitimate interest of the notifying parties or the persons cited in ensuring that their business secrets are not divulged.