Flogas Irl Ltd authorised Licence dealer agreement Calor Teoranta authorised dealer agreement & Blugas Ltd [1994] IECA 364 (28th October, 1994)

Flogas Irl Ltd authorised Licence dealer agreement Calor Teoranta authorised dealer agreement & Blugas Ltd [1994] IECA 364 (28th October, 1994)

Exclusive purchasing agreements for cylinder LPG offend Section 4(1) unless limited to two years without price maintenance, post-termination non-compete, or quantitative dealer selection; only such limited agreements qualify for a category licence under Section 4(2).

Citation
[1994] IECA 364
Parties
Supplier: Flogas Ireland Ltd; Supplier: Calor Teoranta; Supplier: Blugas Ltd
Jurisdiction
Ireland
Procedural Posture
Competition Authority Decision / Final Decision Granting Category Licence
Outcome
Licence granted for category of exclusive purchasing agreements for cylinder LPG limited to two years duration, subject to specified conditions.
Legal Topics
Exclusive Purchasing Agreements, Resale Price Maintenance, Selective Distribution, Market Foreclosure, Category Licence Under Competition Act 1991
Competition Law Exclusive Purchasing Agreements Resale Price Maintenance Selective Distribution Market Foreclosure Category Licence Under Competition Act 1991

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Parties

Flogas Ireland Ltd

Supplier

Calor Teoranta

Supplier

Blugas Ltd

Supplier

Procedural Posture

Competition Authority Decision / Final Decision Granting Category Licence

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether exclusive purchasing agreements for cylinder LPG restrict competition under Section 4(1) of the Competition Act 1991
  2. 2 Whether such agreements qualify for a licence under Section 4(2)
  3. 3 Whether related clauses (price maintenance, dealer selection, post-termination restrictions) offend Section 4(1)

Ratio Decidendi

Exclusive purchasing agreements for cylinder LPG offend Section 4(1) unless limited to two years without price maintenance, post-termination non-compete, or quantitative dealer selection; only such limited agreements qualify for a category licence under Section 4(2).

Court Disposition

Licence granted for category of exclusive purchasing agreements for cylinder LPG limited to two years duration, subject to specified conditions.

Orders

  • All existing agreements exceeding two years must be terminated or amended.
  • New agreements must not exceed two years to benefit from licence.