Competition & Foreign Investment
Blog

Authors

Dr. Bernhard Kofler-Senoner, LL.M.

Dr. Bernhard Kofler-Senoner, LL.M.

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Dr. Anna Wolf-Posch, LL.M.

Dr. Anna Wolf-Posch, LL.M.

CV | E-Mail

MMag. Dr. Michael Mayer

MMag. Dr. Michael Mayer

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Mag. Philipp Schaubach, LL.M.

Mag. Philipp Schaubach, LL.M.

CV | E-Mail

Mag. Zakar Stepanyan

Mag. Zakar Stepanyan

CV | E-Mail

Mag. Benno Šiftar, LL.M.

Mag. Benno Šiftar, LL.M.

CV | E-Mail

New regime on foreign direct investments in Romania

The Hungarian Competition Authority (‘HCA’) somewhat deviated from its previous practice in a recent decision and clarified in greater detail what is expected of leniency applicants in order to receive immunity or a reduced fine. We summarize the new approach of the HCA below.

Implementing the Whistleblower Directive: When is it time and what to prepare?

The Compliance Circle held another webinar on 22 March 2022. CERHA HEMPEL Partners Bernhard Kofler-Senoner and Armin Schwabl as well as Senior Associate Christopher Peitsch looked at Austria’s implementation of the EU Whistleblower Directive. After setting out the current state of implementation in Austria, there followed a discussion of related data protection and labour law issues. Numerous representatives from different sectors took part in the online event.

Competition Inspections in 21 Jurisdictions - A Practitioner's Guide

"COMPETITION INSPECTIONS IN 21 JURISDICTIONS – A PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE" has been published.

Tightening of sustainability obligations for companies through the EU Supply Chain Directive

The European Commission has published a proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence ("Supply Chain Directive") on February 23, 2022.

Revised joint guidance on transaction value thresholds in Austria and Germany

On 23 December 2021, the Austrian Federal Competition Authority (Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde, "BWB") and the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt, "BKartA") published their revised joint guidance on the application of their respective transaction value thresholds for mandatory merger notifications ("Guidelines")

Implementation of the UTP Directive in the Austrian Fair Competition Conditions Act

The Federal Act on the Improvement of Local Sup-ply and Competition Conditions (new abbreviated title: "FWBG") has been in force since 1 January 2022.

Austrian Cartel Law Amendment

The government bill of the Cartel and Competition Law Amendment Act 2021 ("KaWeRÄG") was passed in the National Council on 8 July 2021. From a merger control point of view, a significant change is the introduction of a "second domestic turnover threshold".

D-A-CH Competition Law Conference

On 8 October, the first D-A-CH Competition Law Conference (D-A-CH Kartellrechtsforum) will discuss „Relative Dominance – Open questions and developments“ via Zoom.

The Whistleblower Directive

The Whistleblower Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1937) was adopted by the Council of the European Union in October 2019 and entered into force on 16 December 2019. The (minimum) standards must now be implemented in the Member States by no later than 17 December 2021 (the legislative process is still pending in Austria).

The new Investment Control Act

The Austrian Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs has released the draft of the new Investment Control Act ("Investitionskontrollgesetz") ("ICA") for evaluation. The draft will likely undergo changes throughout the legislative process.