The Belgian Competition Authority dismissed on the basis of its enforcement priorities an antitrust complaint filed by Spira, a Belgium-based dealer of rough diamonds, against De Beers UK Limited and Diamdel NV in its capacity as liquidator of Diamond Trading Company “De Beers”, the world’s largest producer of rough diamonds.
De Beers sells rough diamonds in lots to its customers. In 2003, De Beers rationalised its distribution system by the introduction of the Supplier of Choice system. The SOC system was approved by the European Commission in 2003 by way of a comfort letter.
Following the implementation of the SOC system, Spira, who had been acting as a sightholder for De Beers from 1935 to 2003, was no longer allowed to purchase rough diamonds from De Beers. As a result, Spira filed a complaint against De Beers to the European Commission in 2003.
On 25 March 2015, the Competition College of the Belgian Competition Authority dismissed Spira’s appeal against the rejection of its complaint against De Beers’ distribution system.
Full Content: Mondaq
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Justice Department Moves to End NCAA Transfer Rule
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
Kenya’s Competition Authority Proposes Tougher Regulations on Big Tech
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
KKR Secures EU Antitrust Approval for $24 Billion Acquisition of Telecom Italia’s Fixed-Line Network
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
European Court Sides with Tech Giants in Italian Regulatory Dispute
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
US Steel and Nippon Steel Secure International Approvals for $14.9B Merger
May 30, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Merger Guidelines Retrospective
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
Mergers of Complements
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
Personality Traits, Private Equity, and Merger Analysis
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
The 2023 Merger Guidelines: Lessons in the Importance of Incipiency, Modern Economics, and Monopsony
May 21, 2024 by
CPI
The 2023 Merger Guidelines: Sharpening Merger Analysis
May 21, 2024 by
CPI