Argentina

• Pages: 1-39

CHAPTER 1

ARGENTINA

Argentina-3

CONTENTS

A. OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................ 5

1. General Overview of Competition Laws ..................................................... 5

a. Introduction......................................................................................... 5

b. Background of the New Antitrust Law ............................................... 6

2. Overview of Structure, Independence, and Jurisdiction

of Enforcement Agencies ............................................................................ 7

3. Overview of Structure, Independence, and Jurisdiction

of Judicial Authorities ................................................................................. 8

B. SUBSTANTIVE LAW .............................................................................................. 9

1. Horizontal Agreements and Practices ......................................................... 9

a. Overview............................................................................................. 9

b. Cartel Enforcement ............................................................................. 9

(1) Agreements Covered .................................................................. 9

(2) Enforcement Authorities .......................................................... 12

(3) Investigatory Procedures .......................................................... 12

(a) Dawn Raids ....................................................................... 13

(b) Compelled Production of Documents................................ 13

(c) Wiretapping ....................................................................... 13

(d) Leniency Program ............................................................. 13

(e) Settlements ........................................................................ 15

(f) Penalties............................................................................. 16

c. Treatment of Intragroup Conspiracy or Acts

by Related Companies ...................................................................... 16

d. Other Horizontal Practices ................................................................ 17

2. Mergers and Acquisitions .......................................................................... 18

a. Transactions Covered ....................................................................... 18

b. Joint Ventures ................................................................................... 19

c. Notification and Procedure ...............................................................

20

(1) Jurisdiction ............................................................................... 20

(2) Filing Procedures...................................................................... 21

(3) Filing Fees ................................................................................ 21

(4) Special Provisions for Unsolicited Takeover Bids ................... 22

(5) Initial Information Requirements ............................................. 22

(6) Confidentiality .......................................................................... 22

(7) Exemptions ............................................................................... 23

(8) Sanctions for Failing to File ..................................................... 24

d. Substantive Test ................................................................................ 24

e. Treatment of Efficiencies .................................................................. 24

f. Remedies........................................................................................... 25

g. Third-Party Rights ............................................................................ 25

3. Abuse of Dominant Position ..................................................................... 26

a. Overview: Standards of Evaluation .................................................. 26

b. Definition of Dominance .................................................................. 26

c. Collective Dominance....................................................................... 27

d. Abuse of Dominance ........................................................................ 27

(1) Overview .................................................................................. 27