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• Advised Dufry as transaction counsel on EUR 5.5 bn strategic combination with Autogrill.
  
• Advised Bunge on its USD 8.2 bn business combination with Viterra.
  
• Advised VectivBio on USD 1 bn public cash tender offer from Ironwood Pharmaceuticals.
  

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Highlight-Mandate

• Representing and advising the international pharma company Novartis in the procedure initiated by the Swiss competition authorities regarding an alleged abuse of a dominant position based on the use of its patents in infringement procedures against a third party.
  
• Represented and advised the Swiss health insurance companies CSS and Visana, the pharmacy service provider zur Rose, and health service provider medi24 (a subsidiary of the Allianz group) in the creation of the health platform WELL, with a successful result.
  
• Representing and advising the international fragrancies company Symrise in the procedure initiated by the Swiss competition authorities regarding an alleged cartel with its competitors. The team is coordinating this investigation with EU counsel for the parallel investigation by the EU Commission.
  

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• Rrepresented Medbase AG in the merger control filing before the Swiss Competition Commission (ComCo) with respect to the acquisition of sole control over the Swiss business of Zur Rose Group AG, which is Europe’s largest online pharmacy and one of the leading medical wholesalers in Switzerland. Zur Rose Group AG also operates the leading marketplace for health and care products in Southern Europe. The merger was cleared by ComCo in April 2023 after a phase I investigation.
  
• Represented TX Group AG in the merger control proceedings before the Swiss Competition Commission (ComCo) related to the acquisition of the Swiss business of the internationally operating Clear Channel Group, i.e. Clear Channel Holding AG which operates as an out-of-home advertising company. The merger was cleared by ComCo in February 2023 after a phase I investigation.
  
• Represented TX Group AG in the merger control proceedings before the Swiss Competition Commission (ComCo) related to the acquisition of AdUnit AG, which operates a demand-side platform for advertisers (or their media agencies) and offers advertising inventory providers a software solution for selling and handling their advertising inventory. The merger was cleared by ComCo in December 2022 after a phase I investigation.
  

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• Advised Sika, the Swiss global construction chemicals group, on the successful EUR 5.3bn acquisition of Master Builder Construction Chemicals (MBCC) Group from Lone Star. The transaction represents the largest acquisition in Sika’s 113-year history and was closed on May 2nd 2023.
  
• Advised and represented Estée Lauder in the Swiss COMCO investigation and the appeal proceedings before the Federal Administrative and on the judgment of the Federal Administrative Court of December 2022 and a potential appeal to the Federal Supreme Court regarding information exchange in the luxury cosmetics and perfumes sector. This was the leading case in Switzerland on a standalone exchange of commercially sensitive information and ended for the client with no fine to be paid.
  
• Advised the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) on its Open Banking Project in Switzerland. The project enables the implementation of open banking use cases and the development and rollout of multibanking offerings for individuals. It is an important step towards achieving the open finance objectives set by the Swiss government and supports the digital transformation of the financial sector in Switzerland.
  

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• Advising UBS in its acquisition of Credit Suisse in the merger control proceeding before FINMA and the Swiss Competition Commission. Bär & Karrer represents UBS in the merger control proceeding before FINMA, the financial regulator, and the Swiss competition authority.
  
• Advising Stellantis and Hon Hai in their creation of a 50-50 joint venture to design and sell semiconductors for the automotive industry from 2026. Bär & Karrer represented Stellantis and Hon Hai in relation to the notification to the Swiss competition authority.
  
• Advising Advent International and Warburg Pincus in their acquisition of Baxter’s BioPharma Solutions Business. Bär & Karrer represents the parties in the merger control filing to the Swiss competition authority.
  

Highlight-Mandate

• Advised the Voigt group in challenging merger control proceedings.
  
• Represented a major Swiss bank in the first Swiss investigation in the labour market.
  
• Advised the Hachette Group in the appeal proceedings on the alleged ban on parallel imports in the market for French-language books.
  

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• Advising Fresenius Kabi in the first ever investigation of the Competition Commission regarding relative market power in Switzerland.
  
• Advising a bank in the first ever investigation of the labour market.
  

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• Representing Galexis AG in an investigation against Fresenius Kabi before COMCO. This is the very first investigation into a potential abuse according to the new Article 7(2)(g) of the Act on Cartels that entered into force on 1 January 2022.
  
• Assisting SAS Cargo Group in an appeal to the Federal Supreme court against a decision of the Federal Administrative court partly validating a decision of the COMCO (Swiss competition authority) imposing fines on several entities of SAS Cargo group in the so-called air cargo cartel. Obtained a significant reduction of the sanctions imposed on SAS Cargo Group during the procedure in front of the Federal Administrative Court.
  
• Advised Galenica in the creation of the joint venture with Shop Apotheke. As a result the largest online pharmacy of Switzerland was created. Represented the parties in merger control proceedings, and provided advice related to the structure of the deal and competition compliance.
  

Highlight-Mandate

Highlight-Mandate

• Advised Kontron on cross-border competition law matters in EUR 400m sale of its international IT services business.
  
• Advised and represented Redcare Pharmacy in merger control proceedings in connection with cross-border joint venture with Galenica.
  
• Advised CONET on competition law issues in its cross-border acquisition of emineo.
  

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• Advising and representing Markant (Markant Handels- und Industriewaren-Vermittlungs AG and its subsidiary Markant Syntrade Schweiz AG) in an ongoing investigation of the Swiss Competition Commission in the fast-moving consumer goods sector with regard to alleged anticompetitive conduct by several wholesalers and retailers and Markant.
  
• Advising STRABAG, the Swiss subsidiary of STRABAG SE, one of the largest construction companies in Europe, in day-to-day competition compliance matters, including respective training sessions.
  
• Advising Breitling Ltd, the renowned manufacturer of Swiss luxury watches, in distribution law and day-to-day compliance matters.
  

Highlight-Mandate

• Advised Cousins in a major antitrust dispute alleging that Swatch is illegally abusing its dominant position.
  
• Assisting naxoo SA in appeal proceedings before the Federal Tribunal against a decision rendered by the Swiss Administrative Tribunal in the Supermedia case (alleged abuse of a dominant position).
  
• Represented Burkhalter Holding AG and poenina holding AG in merger control proceedings before the Swiss Competition Commission COMCO.
  

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• Advised RUAG International on the sale of the Aerostructures Germany & Hungary Unit.
  

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• Advising Deponie Höli in an abuse of dominance investigation before the Swiss Competition Commission; the case is accompanied by various media releases. The case is of importance because of interlinks between the conduct of private sector undertakings, public concessions and public supply and environmental concepts and plans.
  
• Provided a legal opinion to the Basler Bankenvereinigung, the Zürcher Bankenverband and the Arbeitgeberverband der Banken in der Schweiz on the subject of recently launched preliminary investigation regarding alleged collusion amongst various banks on employee salaries.
  
• Advising VAKA and its hospital members in relation with possible behavioural coordination of insurers before the ComCo and administrative courts.