Cette thèse a pour objet de comparer le contrôle des concentrations tel qu’il est exercé en France et au Japon afin de souligner les différences et les points communs des deux systèmes en la matière. Cette comparaison s’effectuera tout d’abord sur le plan de la conception du contrôle, afin d’examiner quels types d’opérations constituent une opération de concentration faisant l’objet du contrôle, ce dans les deux systèmes étudiés. Cette étude sera suivie de la comparaison de l’analyse des opérations de concentrations, afin de déterminer les critères d’appréciation des opérations en France, en Europe et au Japon. Enfin il sera procédé à la comparaison des procédures et des décisions prononcées dans les deux systèmes. Cette thèse tient compte dans sa partie française des nouveautés apportées par la Loi de Modernisation de l’Economie (loi LME), et dans sa partie japonaise de la réforme de la procédure du contrôle des concentrations du 6 juin 2011 afin de rendre compte des dernières avancées en la matière. Elle s’attarde également sur l’état du contrôle européen des concentrations, celui-ci ayant une place fondamentale dans le système français / This thesis aims at comparing the merger control currently enforced in France and Japan in order to highlight the differences and common views of both systems in this field. This comparison will first focus on the conception of said control, in order to determine which kinds of mergers are targeted by merger control in both jurisdictions. This study will be followed by the comparison of the analysis of mergers, in order to determine the rationale used for the evaluation of mergers in France, Europe and Japan. Finally, we shall compare the merger control procedures and rulings of those systems. This thesis is based on the French antitrust law reform of August 4th, 2008 (loi “LME”), as well as the Japanese merger proceedings reform of June 14th, 2011 in order to give an insight on the newest developments in the merger control field. Because of its fundamental part in French antitrust law, this thesis also focuses on European merger control.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:33:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CARDOSO_Diego_2013.pdf: 1706794 bytes, checksum: 52ad0ebf4915ad86f6ac9a9529176b01 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-05-20 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / The goal of competition policy, also known as antitrust policy, is promoting the welfare and economic efficiency by preserving fair competition in markets. Merger control is one of the main responsibilities of antitrust institutions. Prohibitions and restrictions of merger operations affect market structures, thus making these decisions relevant to economic agents. This Master's thesis analyzes the decisions made by Brazilian antitrust institutions regarding merger processes. Data was collected from public documents issued from 2004 to 2011. Bivariate analysis, discrete choice models and classification decision trees show that these merger control decisions are consistent with Brazilian antitrust law. Consistent competition policy reduces uncertainty, aligns expectations and increases the efficiency of antitrust law enforcement. Therefore, this research contributes to better understanding Brazilian competition policy related to merger control and its decision drivers. / As políticas de defesa da concorrência, ou políticas antitruste, visam ao maior bem-estar social por meio da manutenção de ambientes concorrenciais que promovam a eficiência econômica. No Brasil, os órgãos que compõem o Sistema Brasileiro de Defesa da Concorrência são os responsáveis pelas decisões sobre os agentes econômicos a fim de atingir os objetivos das políticas antitruste. Nesse âmbito, as decisões que influenciam a estrutura de mercados por meio das restrições e vetos a processos como fusões e aquisições de empresas - os julgamentos de Atos de Concentração - apresentam elevada relevância. Este trabalho realiza uma avaliação das decisões do Sistema Brasileiro de Defesa da Concorrência relativas aos Atos de Concentração. Para tal, foram coletados dados a partir dos documentos públicos emitidos pelos órgãos antitruste no período entre 2004 e 2011. Por meio da aplicação de modelos de regressão de escolha discreta e árvores de decisão induzidas, verificou-se que tais decisões são consistentes com as regras antitruste brasileiras. A consistência com regras estabelecidas possibilita uma maior eficiência na aplicação das políticas de defesa da concorrência, uma vez que reduz as incertezas dos agentes econômicos, alinha as expectativas e facilita a condução dos processos. Nesse sentido, esta investigação contribui para uma melhor compreensão dos fatores que influenciam as decisões dos órgãos brasileiros de defesa da concorrência, oferecendo também indicativos que auxiliam na verificação da eficiência da aplicação de tais políticas.

The Single Economic Entity Doctrine in EU Competition Law Focused on applying single economic entity doctrine in relation to merger control of State Owned Enterprises Abstract This thesis focuses on the issues surrounding single economic entity doctrine in relation to State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), in particular on the effects of Article 22 of the Preamble of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (EUMR), and the Commission Consolidated Jurisdictional Notice under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings. Together these documents set the standards for merger control practice concerning SOEs. They are centred around the principle of applying the single economic entity doctrine when identifying the turnover of SOEs and when determining the jurisdiction of the Commission. The thesis possesses two major goals. The primary goal of the thesis is to elucidate the criteria used for the determination of a single economic unit (single economic entity) with independent decision-making power in the public sector. To this end, in chapter 3, the author has synthetized a list of the relevant criteria used for the determination of an economic entity, based on the criteria used by the Commission that have...

Digitalisation has fundamentally changed the way we communicate, conduct trade and consume goods and services. It has also enabled new business models to evolve. Some firms in the digital sector have developed and are now operating large conglomerate-like networks commonly referred to as ‘digital ecosystems’. Most digital ecosystems involve several autonomous, yet interdependent, firms. They offer diverse sets of different goods and services that often are technologically or economically interlinked and thus provide more value when bought or used together. Ecosystem business structures exist in many industries but a distinct feature of those in the digital sector is that the interdependencies within them are driven by digital technology and data connectivity. This affects how digital ecosystems function and how they need to be assessed under competition law. One of the ways in which digital ecosystems can expand and broaden their product portfolios is through mergers and acquisitions. The world’s five largest digital ecosystem operators – Alphabet (formerly Google), Apple, Meta (formerly Facebook), Amazon, and Microsoft – have together acquired over 800 firms during their relatively short lifetime. The intense merger and acquisition activity observed in the digital sector in the past years has raised concerns about the ability of European Union merger control to ensure that competition in this sector is not distorted by digital ecosystems’ expansion strategies. These concerns relate both to the adequacy of the current procedural system and to the precision of the analytical framework for assessing digital ecosystem mergers. This paper focuses mainly on the latter issue, and more specifically, on the theories of harm that have been applied in assessments of acquisitions by the five digital ecosystem operators mentioned above as well as on the need for alternative approaches or theories of harm for these mergers. It is shown that the assessments largely follow the traditional analytical framework of European Union merger control but that many of the special characteristics of digital markets and digital ecosystems are also taken into consideration. Yet, it is argued in this paper that there is a need for alternative approaches and theories of harm to better account for the competitive implications of digital ecosystem mergers.

O objeto da tese de doutorado é a análise da relação entre a defesa da concorrência e a proteção do consumidor, duas políticas públicas que proporcionam benefícios mútuos e devem ser executadas de modo harmônico, havendo substrato normativo e teórico para incluir a preocupação com o bem-estar do consumidor como um dos objetivos da política de defesa da concorrência. No Brasil tal harmonização é uma imposição constitucional, já que a livre concorrência, a repressão ao abuso do poder econômico e a defesa do consumidor são princípios conformadores da ordem econômica. É defendida a utilização de um conceito unificado de consumidor, sendo adotada a teoria finalista, que o define como o destinatário final econômico do bem ou serviço. As duas políticas utilizam diferentes instrumentos e perspectivas na tutela do bem-estar do consumidor, o que fica claro na proteção do direito de escolha. O Código de Defesa do Consumidor oferece a isonomia como remédio para compensar a vulnerabilidade, estabelecendo regras destinadas à uma escolha consciente, sobretudo o direito à informação adequada e veraz. Já as normas de defesa da concorrência resguardam a liberdade preocupando-se em preservar a possibilidade de escolha entre mais de um fornecedor de produtos ou serviços. O exemplo mais contundente dá-se no controle de estruturas: a atuação das autoridades responsáveis pela análise dos atos de concentração é vinculada à preservação do excedente do consumidor e das condições imprescindíveis ao exercício do direito de escolha, sendo vedada a aprovação de fusões que prejudiquem o bemestar do consumidor. No âmbito repressivo a harmonização das duas políticas é intensificada com a colaboração entre as autoridades de defesa da concorrência e de proteção do consumidor para a fiscalização de condutas que configurem, ao mesmo tempo, infrações contra a ordem econômica e práticas abusivas, cuja dupla capitulação não acarreta bis in idem, pois são distintas as esferas jurídicas tuteladas, havendo assim diversidade de fundamentos. É salientada a importância das ações coletivas para reparação de danos causados aos consumidores por infrações contra a ordem econômica e defendida a adoção dos danos multiplicados e a manutenção da destinação dos valores arrecadados por multas a infrações contra a ordem econômica ao Fundo Federal de Direitos Difusos. / The thesis analyzes the relationship between the competition defense and the consumer protection, both public policies that offer mutual benefits and must be carried out in a harmonic way. So, there is a normative and theoretical substratum concerning the consumer welfare as one of the objectives of the antitrust policy. In Brazil such harmonization is imposed by the Constitution, since the free competition, the repression of the abuse of the economic power and the consumer protection are principles that pertain to the constitutional economic order. In this paper consumer is regarded as a unified concept, i.e., the economic final user of goods or services. Both policies use different instruments and perspectives for the protection of the consumer welfare, what is clear in the enforcement of the right of choice. The Consumer Defense Code refers to the isonomy as a remedy to make up for the vulnerability, establishing rules for a conscious choice, especially the right to the proper, true and accurate information. The antitrust rules are concerned with the freedom of choice and the possibilities of option from more than one supplier of products or services. The most outstanding example is related to the merger control: the antitrust authorities are required to guarantee a consumer surplus and the necessary conditions to exercise the right of choice, being totally banned the approval of mergers that may be harmful to the consumer welfare. The harmonization of both policies in the repression scope is intensified with the cooperation between antitrust and consumer protection authorities regarding to the law enforcement against practices that may represent infractions of the competition and of the consumer protection rules, as well. The thesis emphasizes the importance of class actions to repair consumer damages caused by antitrust law violations and defends the adoption of the multiplied damages and the maintenance of the allocation to the Diffuse Rights Federal Fund of amounts raised by fines collected by the Antitrust Authorities.

La réalisation du marché intérieur de l’énergie constitue le moyen de diminuer le coût de l’énergie pour les consommateurs tout en assurant d’autres objectifs tels que la sécurité d’approvisionnement. Toutefois, les marchés européens du gaz et de l’électricité connaissent de nombreuses défaillances identifiées par la Commission dans son rapport résultant d’une enquête sectorielle lancée en 2005. Les directives de libéralisation ne suffisant pas, elle prône une application renforcée du droit de la concurrence, en particulier du droit du contrôle des concentrations. L’objet de cette étude est dès lors d’analyser l’utilisation de ces règles dans le cadre du processus de libéralisation des marchés énergétiques en Europe.Après une explication de la vague de concentrations ayant eu lieu dans le secteur énergétique sous l’impact de la libéralisation et du contexte qui l’entoure, on s’intéresse à l’utilisation des règles du contrôle des concentrations. Cette étude tente de mettre en exergue l’utilisation orientée de ses règles. Les Etats membres tout d’abord tendent à favoriser les opérations de concentrations se produisant entre des entreprises nationales tout en posant des obstacles aux opérations impliquant l’entrée sur leurs territoires d’acteurs étrangers.La Commission quant à elle favorise les concentrations de nature transfrontalière afin d’aider à la réalisation du marché intérieur et au développement de l’aspect concurrentiel de ce marché. Pour ce faire, elle a recours à un outil particulier : les remèdes. De tels rapprochements entre entreprises favorisant le marché intérieur, il n’est pas dans l’intérêt de la Commission de les interdire. Les remèdes permettent d’éliminer les effets négatifs qui pourraient résulter d’une opération de concentration. Cette étude propose une analyse des différents remèdes ayant été acceptés par la Commission afin de résoudre un problème de concurrence. / The completion of the internal energy market is the way to reduce energy costs forconsumers while providing other objectives such as security of supply. However,European gas and electricity markets are experiencing many failures identified by theCommission in its report published in 2007. The Commission advocates a strongerapplication of competition law, in particular the rules of merger control because theliberalization directives was not enough. Therefore the purpose of this study istherefore to analyze the application of those rules in the process of liberalization ofenergy markets in Europe.After an explanation of the merger wave that occurred in the energy sector under theimpact of liberalization and the environment that surrounds it, we are interested in theapplication of the rules of merger control.In this scope we will see that the Commission encourages the concentration of crossbordernature to help build the internal market and to develop the competition. Torealize this objective, the Commission uses a particular tool: the remedies. Theremedies can eliminate the negative effects that could result from a merger. Thisstudy provides an analysis of the various remedies that have been accepted by theCommission to resolve the problems of competition.

O objeto da tese de doutorado é a análise da relação entre a defesa da concorrência e a proteção do consumidor, duas políticas públicas que proporcionam benefícios mútuos e devem ser executadas de modo harmônico, havendo substrato normativo e teórico para incluir a preocupação com o bem-estar do consumidor como um dos objetivos da política de defesa da concorrência. No Brasil tal harmonização é uma imposição constitucional, já que a livre concorrência, a repressão ao abuso do poder econômico e a defesa do consumidor são princípios conformadores da ordem econômica. É defendida a utilização de um conceito unificado de consumidor, sendo adotada a teoria finalista, que o define como o destinatário final econômico do bem ou serviço. As duas políticas utilizam diferentes instrumentos e perspectivas na tutela do bem-estar do consumidor, o que fica claro na proteção do direito de escolha. O Código de Defesa do Consumidor oferece a isonomia como remédio para compensar a vulnerabilidade, estabelecendo regras destinadas à uma escolha consciente, sobretudo o direito à informação adequada e veraz. Já as normas de defesa da concorrência resguardam a liberdade preocupando-se em preservar a possibilidade de escolha entre mais de um fornecedor de produtos ou serviços. O exemplo mais contundente dá-se no controle de estruturas: a atuação das autoridades responsáveis pela análise dos atos de concentração é vinculada à preservação do excedente do consumidor e das condições imprescindíveis ao exercício do direito de escolha, sendo vedada a aprovação de fusões que prejudiquem o bemestar do consumidor. No âmbito repressivo a harmonização das duas políticas é intensificada com a colaboração entre as autoridades de defesa da concorrência e de proteção do consumidor para a fiscalização de condutas que configurem, ao mesmo tempo, infrações contra a ordem econômica e práticas abusivas, cuja dupla capitulação não acarreta bis in idem, pois são distintas as esferas jurídicas tuteladas, havendo assim diversidade de fundamentos. É salientada a importância das ações coletivas para reparação de danos causados aos consumidores por infrações contra a ordem econômica e defendida a adoção dos danos multiplicados e a manutenção da destinação dos valores arrecadados por multas a infrações contra a ordem econômica ao Fundo Federal de Direitos Difusos. / The thesis analyzes the relationship between the competition defense and the consumer protection, both public policies that offer mutual benefits and must be carried out in a harmonic way. So, there is a normative and theoretical substratum concerning the consumer welfare as one of the objectives of the antitrust policy. In Brazil such harmonization is imposed by the Constitution, since the free competition, the repression of the abuse of the economic power and the consumer protection are principles that pertain to the constitutional economic order. In this paper consumer is regarded as a unified concept, i.e., the economic final user of goods or services. Both policies use different instruments and perspectives for the protection of the consumer welfare, what is clear in the enforcement of the right of choice. The Consumer Defense Code refers to the isonomy as a remedy to make up for the vulnerability, establishing rules for a conscious choice, especially the right to the proper, true and accurate information. The antitrust rules are concerned with the freedom of choice and the possibilities of option from more than one supplier of products or services. The most outstanding example is related to the merger control: the antitrust authorities are required to guarantee a consumer surplus and the necessary conditions to exercise the right of choice, being totally banned the approval of mergers that may be harmful to the consumer welfare. The harmonization of both policies in the repression scope is intensified with the cooperation between antitrust and consumer protection authorities regarding to the law enforcement against practices that may represent infractions of the competition and of the consumer protection rules, as well. The thesis emphasizes the importance of class actions to repair consumer damages caused by antitrust law violations and defends the adoption of the multiplied damages and the maintenance of the allocation to the Diffuse Rights Federal Fund of amounts raised by fines collected by the Antitrust Authorities.

Les dernières décennies ont témoigné d’un important accroissement des concentrations transnationales dans le monde et d’une multiplication des systèmes de contrôle des concentrations. Alors que les enjeux économiques revêtent désormais une dimension internationale, les mécanismes juridiques de régulation demeurent cantonnés à une échelle nationale ou régionale. En effet, la soumission d’une même opération de concentration à différents régimes de contrôle engendre plusieurs problématiques juridiques, dont le risque d’être confronté à des décisions contradictoires ou incohérentes rendues par différentes autorités de la concurrence. Ceci dit, il nous semble que des mécanismes juridiques pour réguler les concentrations transnationales s’imposent. S’agissant d’une réalité au niveau européen, la « régionalisation » du droit de la concurrence apporte une aide précieuse à ces problématiques. Au niveau mondial, différentes approches de solution sont envisageables. Cette thèse soutient, à court terme, la convergence des règles et des pratiques, afin de réduire les inconvénients associés au contrôle des concentrations transnationales, accompagnée, à long terme, par l’adoption de certaines règles contraignantes au sein de l’OMC. / In the past decades, the number of transnational mergers worldwide has significantly increased. Merger control systems follow the same trend and have proliferated during this period. While economic issues are globalized, legal mechanisms remain national or regional. The notification of one single merger to different merger control systems raises several legal issues, in particular with respect to the risk of achievingcontradictory or incoherent decisions from different competition agencies. Thus, revised legal mechanisms are required in order to adequately regulate transnational mergers. A“regionalization” of merger control, as set by the European experience, offers useful insights towards proposals to deal with these issues. In a global perspective, several alternative approaches are possible. This thesis supports, on the short-term, a permanent convergence of rules and practices to reduce problems related to transnational merger control, followed, on the long-term, by the adoption of certain binding rules within the WTO.

Le patriotisme économique, souvent brandi comme un étendard afin de justifier l'intervention de l’État dans la sphère économique, est en cela une expression d'origine essentiellement politique. Ainsi ressort-il de manière régulière sur la scène médiatique française au gré d'offres publiques d'achat faites sur des fleurons nationaux. La traduction dans la sphère juridique de ce concept passe alors nécessairement par l'identification des instruments juridiques permettant sa mise en œuvre. Cette traduction se voit alors encadrée et dans une certaine mesure orientée par un impératif tenant à la détermination des limites du concept. Celui-ci n'a de sens, de manière autonome, que s'il parvient à se distinguer du protectionnisme. Dans cette optique, l'arsenal juridique du patriotisme économique désigne ainsi plus spécifiquement les moyens permettant à L’État de détenir un contrôle sur les entreprises qu'il juge « stratégiques » ou « essentielles » afin de veiller à garantir les intérêts nationaux vis-à-vis de prises de participation étrangères. De cette façon, le patriotisme économique s'affirme tant par son champ d'application, la protection de secteurs économiques stratégiques, que par son objet, en étant conçu à la lumière d'un élément tenant à l'extranéité, les capitaux étrangers. Dès lors, les instruments juridiques auxquels renvoie ce concept sont loin d'être propres à un État en particulier, bien au contraire. Étant donné qu'ils s'entendent sous le prisme de la souveraineté étatique, il s'agit même de se demander si leur mise en œuvre n'est pas inhérente à l’État. Parallèlement, la conception internationale de la souveraineté de l’État implique que celui-ci est libre de se limiter par la conclusion d'engagements internationaux. La construction européenne, caractérisant le processus dynamique d'édification d'une organisation d'intégration, est le fruit de l'exercice de cette souveraineté internationale. À mesure des transferts de compétences des États membres vers l'Union européenne, un point de jonction entre le patriotisme économique pratiqué par les États membres et la construction européenne s'est créé. Cette étude a donc pour objet d'étudier la dialectique entre le concept de patriotisme économique et la construction européenne, sous la forme d'une exigence de compatibilité. Cette dialectique doit alors s'analyser en miroir de la souveraineté de L’État. Si le patriotisme économique ne fait qu'exprimer la souveraineté territoriale et in fine la souveraineté interne de l’État, il porte en lui une certaine opposition au mouvement de libéralisation des échanges et des investissements, auquel l’État membre de l'Union européenne a lui-même consenti par le biais d'engagements internationaux. En cela des tensions peuvent être perceptibles entre la souveraineté interne et la souveraineté externe de l’État. / On the one hand, economic patriotism is often merely a ploy, flourished to justify State intervention in the economy. That is why it is first of all a political expression. Therefore, the matter routinely appears in the French media through the takeover bids made on national champions. The expression into the legal sphere of this concept requires an identification of legal instruments, which will make possible its implementation. This definition is framed and coloured by the necessity to distinguish economic patriotism from protectionism. As a result, the legal definition of economic patriotism refers to the means for the State to keep some control over the companies that it considers "strategic" or "essential" to ensure national interests are not jeopardized by foreign ownership. Therefore economic patriotism is asserted both through its scope, the protection of strategic economic sectors, and through its purpose, as an answer to an external threat: foreign capital. In this way the legal instruments to which this concept refers are far from being specific to a particular State. Since they are understandable through the State sovereignty, one even wonders if their implementation is not inherent to the State. On the other hand, external sovereignty implies that the State is free to restrict itself by entering into international commitments. European construction characterizes the dynamic process, which aims to build an integration organization and therefore it is the result of the exercise by the State of this international sovereignty. Even as jurisdictions have been transferred from member states to the European Union, economic patriotism practiced by the member states gradually fell into European integration realm. This study aims to explore the dialectic between the concept of economic patriotism and European integration as a compatibility requirement. This dialectic must be analysed from the State sovereignty point of view. Economic patriotism expresses the State territorial sovereignty whereas European integration is the result of its external sovereignty, which notably led to liberalize trade and investments. Therefore, tensions may appear between internal and external State sovereignty.

隨著世界各國開放市場，事業間的競爭已步入國際化，是以競爭法制與政策也必須國際化，然而各國間競爭法規範的調和並未隨著經貿自由化而自然達成。本文點出競爭法與國際接軌的重要性，進一步檢視各國就競爭法案件在單邊、雙邊、複邊等層次將面臨哪些執法上的問題。又因國際反競爭案件越趨頻仍，競爭法主管機關間的合作需求隨之提高，究竟在執法合作上可能面臨哪些困難與限制，未來在合作上發展的趨勢如何，本文將循序漸進加以探討。目前國際間迄未形成一套強勢的競爭法制，世界貿易組織（World Trade Organization, WTO）亦放棄在杜哈談判回合處理競爭議題，然經貿自由化對國際競爭法制仍持續注入新元素。譬如各國簽訂之自由貿易協定與區域經濟整合，多設有競爭相關章節，並開始關注國營事業涉及的反競爭問題（即競爭中立的問題），此等新發展亦屬本文探討之範圍。 / Along with the trend of trade liberaliztion, the competition among enterprises has gone global. However, the competition rules seem to have no chance to reach international coordination in the near future. This article emphasizes that it’s important for a nation to coordinate its own competition law with other countries. Thus, the issues of competiton law enforcement at unilateral level, bilateral level, plurilateral level, regional level, and mutilateral level are also well discussed in this article. Due to the increasing number of anti-competition cases, the need for enforcement cooperation has risen. As a result, this article spends many efforts on recognizing the restraints and obstacles when cooperating with other competition authorities, trying to find the solutions to the problems of cooperation. Despite the fact that WTO failed to deal with international competition issues, there are many ambitious FTAs and reginal trade agreements trying to make common competition rules, which induce new elements into the field of international competition laws and policies. For exaples, TPP and many FTAs are in the negotiation of competitive neutrality requirement in the draft agreements. Such new development will not be excluded when speaking of international competition laws and policies.