News
Competitive Effects of Mergers in highly concentrated Markets
Thyssenkrupp AG plans to sell its entire elevator segment. Kone Corporation, a major player in the elevator and escalator industry (“E&E industry”), has publicly signalled its interest in an acquisition. The Company further signalled that in case of a successful bid it would divest the complete European elevator business of Thyssenkrupp to the private equity firm CVC for antitrust reasons. Sev…more
Double Nomination for the Antitrust Writing Award
Two publications with DICE Consult participation were nominated for the Antitrust Wiriting Award: "Screening Instruments for Monitoring Market Power−The Return on Withholding Capacity Index [RWC]" by DICE Consult Managing Director Susanne Thorwarth, together with Olivia Bodnar, Alexander Steinmetz and Marc Bataille. "How mergers affect innovation: Theory and evidence" by DICE C…more
Useful Alternative: Bundeskartellamt honours RWC Index
In its current Market Power Report - Energy the Bundeskartellamt acknowledges the Return on Withholding Capacity (RWC) Index, which Marc Bataille, Olivia Bodnar, Alexander Steinmetz and Susanne Thorwarth have developed as an alternative or supplementary indicator for measuring market power in the electricity generation market. The RWC Index enables an assessment of the risk of abusive capacity…more
Competition economics working group discusses vertical merger effects, algorithms and abusive data processing conditions
The Competition Economics Working Group of the Bundeskartellamt met on 13 December with the participation of Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap. The following topics were on the agenda: 1) Mergers between companies at different stages of the value chain, which can lead to cost increases for competitors (raising rivals' costs), 2) the study on algorithms and competition by the Bundeskartellamt with the…more
Workshop: The role of national and international retail alliances in the agricultural and food supply chain
DICE Consult Partner Prof. Dr. Christian Wey was invited by Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development [DG Agri] and Joint Research Centre [JRC] to present about the “Economics of Retail Association and Buyer Power” on the Workshop “The role of national and international retail alliances in the agricultural and food supply chain” held on 4./5. November 2019 in Bussels. Further informa…more
Research with Impact
FTC Commissioners Rohit Chopra and Becca Kelly Slaughter prominently cite recent research by DICE Consult Partner Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap in their statements on the Federal Trade Commission clears Bristol-Myers Squibb acquisition of Celgene. The cited studies can be found here: Justus Haucap, Joel Stiebale [2016], Research: Innovation Suffers When Drug Companies Merge, HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW…more
Joint Seminar of White & Case and DICE Consult: "Killer Acquisitions in the Pharmaceutical and Digital Industry"
Together with "White & Case", DICE Consult hosted a seminar on "Killer Acquisitions in the Pharmaceutical and Digital Industry". The programme included lectures on the following topics: Theories of harm from an economic and legal perspective Empirical evidence Methods of proving harm Do we need legislative changes? The speakers were: Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap, Partner of…more
Capital: DICE Consult Partner Justus Haucap is one of the most influential minds in digitalization
Who influences the digital future in Germany? According to the business magazine Capital, DICE Consult partner Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap is one of the 15 most influential minds in digitisation in Germany. Further personalities are the investors Oliver Samwer and Frank Thelen, as well as SAP CEO Christian Klein or Minister of State Dorothee Beer. To the article at capital.demore
Justus Haucap ranks among the 20 most influential economists in Germany
In the current FAZ ranking of the most influential German economists, DICE Consult-Partner Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap ranks 17th in the overall ranking. The ranking of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is published once a year and measures the extent to which an economic researcher is heard in the media, appreciated by politicians as an advisor, and provides impulses in science that encourage other…more
Justus Haucap is named in GCR’s "Who’s Who Legal" as a standout figure in the German market
DICE Consult Partner Justus Haucap Justus Haucap has been named in GCR's "Who is Who Legal" to the list of leading experts in the field of "Competition". He is an outstanding figure in the German market who is well known for his strong academic knowledge of competition matters. Who's Who Legal identifies the foremost legal practitioners in multiple areas of business law.more
Bundeskartellamt prohibits Remondis takeover of DSD
The Bundeskartellamt has prohibited the merger of DSD and Remondis. According to the President of the Bundeskartellamt, Andreas Mundt, the merger would have led to a significant impediment of competition in the dual systems and higher costs for consumers. A study by DICE Consult on behalf of the bvse industry association came to similar conclusions and also critically assessed the intended…more
Seminar: Modern antitrust in times of digitalisation with Justus Haucap
DICE Consult partner Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap is one of the main speakers at the antitrust seminar of the business law firm "White & Case". The seminar will take place on 9 May 2019 in Düsseldorf under the title "Modern Antitrust Law in Times of Digitalisation and New Distribution Formats". Further information as well as a registration form can be found here.more
Press review: How a Mega-Merger Could Damage Competition in the Waste Sector
A DICE Consult study caused a furore in the media. On behalf of the industry association bvse, DICE Consult conducted a study under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Justus Haucap to examine the effects on competition of the announced takeover of the Dual System Germany [DSD] by the waste management company Remondis. Numerous media such as Süddeutsche Zeitung, Die Welt, SPIEGEL-Online and the industry …more
Haucap in WELT-Interview: "Postage increase is an impertinence"
In an interview with WELT, DICE Consult partner Prof. Justus Haucap sharply criticizes the planned postage increase of Deutsche Post AG. "What's going on is an imertinence," says Haucap. He is especially critical of the intervention of the Minister of Economic Affairs, which has "nearly undermined the price regulation of the postal service". "For effective control of…more
Bundeskartellamt intends to prohibit merger of DSD and Remondis
The Bundeskartellamt will prohibit the takeover of the Dual System Deutschland (DSD) by the Remondis on the basis of competition concerns. The Bundeskartellamt has informed the two companies that "the acquisition of DSD by Remondis would lead to an impediment of competition in the dual system in Germany. There are fears of higher costs for DSD's competitors, significant market share gains…more
Action for damages against confectionery cartel: DICE Consult study reveals plaintiff' s contradictions
In a recent article in the "Juve" trade magazine, an expert study by DICE Consult is regarded as a decisive building block for the suspension of the action for damages brought by Schlecker, Rossmann and Müller against renowned chocolate manufacturers. The DICE Consult expert opinion under the direction of Prof. Dr. Ulrich Heimeshoff and Dr. Susanne Thorwarth determined considerable …more