Vertical Agreements in EU Competition Law

Providing a detailed and practical analysis of the entire scope of the law relating to vertical agreements, including the new general block exemption regulations and the Vertical Guidelines, this book is an indispensible tool for all practitioners active in the drafting or reviewing of vertical agreements.

This book gives comprehensive coverage of EU distribution law and the law relating to vertical agreements. Now in its second edition, it is the only book to provide a detailed and practice oriented analysis of the entire scope of vertical agreements under the new legislative framework. Written by two authors who assisted the Commission in its drafting and reviewing of the Regulation, the book gives invaluable practical commentary on the new general block exemption (Regulation 330/2010), the new Motor Vehicle Block Exemption regulation (Regulation 461/2010), and the accompanying new Vertical Guidelines, as well as on agreements which are not covered by a block exemption. The authors consider issues directly relevant in the commercial world, answering questions such as: Under what conditions may a supplier impose territorial restrictions on his dealer network?: Is it possible to impose maximum retail prices?: Are customer restrictions permissible in a selective distribution system?: Can a supplier assume an exclusive supply obligation?: Is an exclusive supply-back obligation included in a subcontracting arrangement enforceable? The authors draw on their experience in this area of competition law to address the more complex issues relating to vertical restraints. They offer practical solutions to commercial problems and provide an indispensible tool for all practitioners in this field.