We would like to ensure that you are still receiving content that you find useful – please confirm that you would like to continue to receive ILO newsletters.
10 September 2020
Introduction
Scope
When can operators apply for leniency?
Application report and key evidence required for leniency applications
Other requirements for leniency
Who can ask for a marker?
How are applicants classed?
Decision and publication of leniency
Comment
In June 2020 the Anti-monopoly Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) published a new book, the 2019 Compilation of Antitrust Regulations and Guidelines, which contains four previously unpublished guidelines covering the automotive sector, IP rights, leniency policy and commitments by undertakings. The Guidelines on Leniency for Horizontal Monopoly Agreements (the leniency guidelines) detail the SAMR's leniency policies towards horizontal monopoly agreements (cartels) under China's antitrust law system.
Monopoly agreements by competitors are generally highly secretive and, except for extreme scenarios, the parties to such agreements lack an incentive to whistleblow to the competition authorities. The SAMR's leniency policy is formulated to encourage such parties to voluntarily self-report and hand over substantive evidence by granting them exemptions or fine reductions.
Article 46 of the Anti-monopoly Law (AML) provides that where an operator engaged in a monopoly agreement voluntarily reports said agreement and provides material evidence thereof to the authorities, they could be eligible for a reduction or exemption from punishment. Further, Articles 33 and 34 (among others) of the Interim Provisions on Prohibiting Monopoly Agreements promulgated by the SAMR:
Preparations for the leniency guidelines by anti-monopoly authorities go as far back as 2015. In June 2015 the Office of the Anti-monopoly Commission of the State Council organised the three former antitrust enforcement agencies (ie, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the previous State Administration for Industry and Commerce) to draft the leniency guidelines. In February 2016 the NDRC released the draft leniency guidelines to solicit public comments. In February 2017 the Office of the Anti-monopoly Commission of the State Council revised the draft leniency guidelines based on the opinions of the members and experts of the Anti-monopoly Commission under the State Council. Due to the administrative restructuring of the State Council, in August 2018 certain provisions of the draft leniency guidelines were further amended. On approval by the Anti-monopoly Commission under the State Council, the leniency guidelines were officially issued on 4 January 2019 and published along with the other three guidelines in the abovementioned book.
The current leniency guidelines provide relatively specific guidance to the SAMR and market players regarding how the SAMR's leniency policy should be implemented. Specifically, the leniency guidelines establish a 'marker' system with different fine reduction levels and clarify the requirements for obtaining leniency, reporting procedures and practices for the submission of material evidence. The leniency guidelines also provide guidance to enforcement agencies on leniency application reviews. Compared with the previous draft version, there are several changes to the application and review procedures and specific requirements to which the operators should pay more attention if applying for leniency in an antitrust investigation. This article elaborates on the main highlights and implications of the leniency guidelines.
The leniency policy applies only to horizontal monopoly agreements concluded between competitors as defined under Article 13(1) of the AML. Vertical monopoly agreements and abuse of market dominance are not applicable. Notably, not all applicants under the leniency policy will be fully exempt from penalties. The leniency guidelines provide that if an operator organises or forces other operators to participate in reaching or implementing monopoly agreements, or impedes other operators from terminating their illegal conduct, the authority will not grant an exemption but can instead allow a limited penalty reduction. A penalty reduction or exemption is generally applied against fines imposed on the parties to a monopoly agreement, but it will not allow such parties to keep ill-gotten gains under such an agreement.
When can operators apply for leniency?
The time limit for operators to apply for leniency is not strict. Operators can apply for leniency:
Application report and key evidence required for leniency applications
When a party applies for a leniency, the following documents are required:
If the authority decides not to grant the leniency, it will not determine the illegal acts based on the relevant materials filed by parties for the purpose of a leniency application.
Application report
For the first applicant, the application report must include:
For subsequent applicants, the application report must cover:
Key evidence
The leniency guidelines clarify that, for the first applicant, 'key evidence' refers to materials that:
For subsequent applicants, 'key evidence' refers to materials that the enforcement agencies have not collected and would be of significant or probative value in detecting a monopoly agreement – including:
Other requirements for leniency
In addition to the above requirements, the leniency guidelines request the applicant to:
A marker system is applied in many jurisdictions worldwide. In the European Union, the marker system "is designed to preserve and protect the applicant's place in a leniency queue for a definite period of time".(1) The leniency guidelines establish a marker system in China and provide an exemption for the first applicant that meets its requirements; for each subsequent successful applicant, it provides a reduction in fines. Only the first immunity applicant can hold their marker's priority without delivering all of the required evidence: if an operator initially submits a monopoly agreement information report to the authorities and then provides related key evidence, the authority can decide to mark the time of the initial submission as that of applying for leniency and request the applicant to supplement all related materials generally within 30 days or 60 days for special cases. If the first applicant cannot supplement the related materials within the required period, it will lose its priority under the marker system; if so, the next successful applicant for a reduction in penalties can automatically become the first-in-time immunity applicant.
The leniency guidelines clarify the following range of fine reductions available to undertakings for the first, second or third place applicants:
In general, the enforcement agency may grant leniency to up to three operators in an investigation. If a high-profile case is relatively complicated and involves more than three parties to agreements applying for leniency, the enforcement agency can grant reductions in penalties to more than three applicants. Similarly, the confiscation of illegal gains may also be referred to the exemption or reduction of fines on parties of monopoly agreements, subject to the authority's discretion.
Decision and publication of leniency
Subject to the leniency guidelines, the authorities can publish the leniency decision if they agree to grant an exemption or reduction of fines to the applicants. Without the relevant parties' consent, the application report and all other related materials submitted for the leniency application cannot be published and none of the other third parties can review it. This provision may to some extent relieve companies' practical concerns that the materials submitted for a leniency application can be used as evidence against them in future civil actions by other parties.
The leniency policy provides a valuable and practical approach to help global antitrust enforcement agencies in the detection and termination of infringing monopoly agreements. The leniency guidelines propose a relatively reliable leniency system under the AML, which is of great significance for improving the effectiveness of antitrust enforcement, while providing a valuable source of guidance for Chinese market players to follow.
For further information on this topic please contact Hao Zhan, Ying Song or Zhan Yang at AnJie Law Firm by telephone (+86 10 8567 5988) or email (zhanhao@anjielaw.com, songying@anjielaw.com or yangzhan@anjielaw.com). The AnJie Law Firm website can be accessed at www.anjielaw.com.
Endnotes
(1) "Use of Markers in Leniency Programs", Working Party 3 on Cooperation and Enforcement, European Union, 16 December 2014.
The materials contained on this website are for general information purposes only and are subject to the disclaimer.
ILO is a premium online legal update service for major companies and law firms worldwide. In-house corporate counsel and other users of legal services, as well as law firm partners, qualify for a free subscription.