Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Do competition authorities consider business relationships?

Anderson, Helén ; Holtström, Johan and Öberg, Christina LU (2012) In Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing 19(1). p.67-92
Abstract
Abstract in Undetermined
Purpose: Companies engage in business relationships for a variety of reasons, including specialization, product development, and building competitive networks. Research has demonstrated that mergers and acquisitions (M&As) may challenge ongoing business relationships. The purpose of this article is to investigate whether and how competition authorities consider business relationships when evaluating M&As.

Methodology: The article uses the documentation from 450 M&As reported to the Swedish competition authority to capture the way in which an authority evaluates M&As. The Swedish competition authority evaluation corresponds to other national and international evaluation procedures.
... (More)
Abstract in Undetermined
Purpose: Companies engage in business relationships for a variety of reasons, including specialization, product development, and building competitive networks. Research has demonstrated that mergers and acquisitions (M&As) may challenge ongoing business relationships. The purpose of this article is to investigate whether and how competition authorities consider business relationships when evaluating M&As.

Methodology: The article uses the documentation from 450 M&As reported to the Swedish competition authority to capture the way in which an authority evaluates M&As. The Swedish competition authority evaluation corresponds to other national and international evaluation procedures.

Findings: The findings indicate that the competition authorities neglect an important aspect of business life, namely companies forming business relationships. The competition authorities evaluate M&As on the basis of risk for price increases, and consequently disregard such issues as heterogeneity in demand and offerings, and values built into existing business relationships.

Originality/Value/Contribution: The article contributes to research on business relationships through exploring how a public authority deals with such relationships. It also contributes to research on mergers and acquisitions through examining how these activities are evaluated by competition authorities. Furthermore, the article contributes to competition research by reflecting on competition law concerning M&A regulations in relation to business relationships. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
competition authority, merger, acquisition, customer relationship, supplier relationship, business relationship, business marketing, industrial marketing
in
Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing
volume
19
issue
1
pages
67 - 92
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000302213200003
  • scopus:84857081292
ISSN
1547-0628
DOI
10.1080/1051712X.2011.593024
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
52bd443e-77ff-4b5e-ba73-57be116e465a (old id 1939469)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:03:18
date last changed
2022-01-25 19:17:27
@article{52bd443e-77ff-4b5e-ba73-57be116e465a,
  abstract     = {{Abstract in Undetermined<br>
Purpose: Companies engage in business relationships for a variety of reasons, including specialization, product development, and building competitive networks. Research has demonstrated that mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;As) may challenge ongoing business relationships. The purpose of this article is to investigate whether and how competition authorities consider business relationships when evaluating M&amp;As.<br>
<br>
Methodology: The article uses the documentation from 450 M&amp;As reported to the Swedish competition authority to capture the way in which an authority evaluates M&amp;As. The Swedish competition authority evaluation corresponds to other national and international evaluation procedures.<br>
<br>
Findings: The findings indicate that the competition authorities neglect an important aspect of business life, namely companies forming business relationships. The competition authorities evaluate M&amp;As on the basis of risk for price increases, and consequently disregard such issues as heterogeneity in demand and offerings, and values built into existing business relationships.<br>
<br>
Originality/Value/Contribution: The article contributes to research on business relationships through exploring how a public authority deals with such relationships. It also contributes to research on mergers and acquisitions through examining how these activities are evaluated by competition authorities. Furthermore, the article contributes to competition research by reflecting on competition law concerning M&amp;A regulations in relation to business relationships.}},
  author       = {{Anderson, Helén and Holtström, Johan and Öberg, Christina}},
  issn         = {{1547-0628}},
  keywords     = {{competition authority; merger; acquisition; customer relationship; supplier relationship; business relationship; business marketing; industrial marketing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{67--92}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Business-to-Business Marketing}},
  title        = {{Do competition authorities consider business relationships?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1051712X.2011.593024}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/1051712X.2011.593024}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}