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BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB

Additional names

ABB AB v BritNed Development Ltd

Subject Matter

COMPETITION — Restriction or distortion of competition — Anti-competitive agreement — European Commission finding supplier of cable participated in cartel — Customer bringing claim for breach of statutory duty against supplier to recover alleged resulting overcharge and loss of profits — Test for establishing actionable harm — Proper approach to quantifying loss — Test for establishing lost profit claim — FEU Treaty, art 101FEU — Parliament and Council Directive 2014/104/EU, art 17(2)

[2018] EWHC 2616 (Ch); [2019] Bus LR 718; [2018] WLR(D) 514, Ch D

PRACTICE — Order — Variation

[2018] EWHC 2913 (Ch), Ch D

COSTS — Discretion as to costs — Partial success

[2018] EWHC 3142 (Ch), Ch D

COMPETITION — Restriction or distortion of competition — Anti-competitive agreement — European Commission finding supplier of electricity cable participated in cartel — Claimant purchaser of cable bringing damages claim for loss allegedly suffered because of cartel — Proper approach to assessment of loss — Whether European Union principle of effectiveness requiring award of damages to be punitive — Whether loss or damage to claimant to be presumed — Whether in absence of precise evidence suffered by claimant court required to err on side of under-compensation — Whether damages to be reduced to take account of regulatory cap on claimant’s profits — Whether award of damages based on cartel savings made by supplier wrong in principle — FEU Treaty, art 101FEU

[2019] EWCA Civ 1840; [2020] Bus LR 1073; [2019] WLR(D) 610, CA

Legislation Considered

EU Enactments

Directive 2014/104/EU (Parliament and Council), art 17(2)

FEU Treaty, art 101FEU

Cases Considered

Cases considered in: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2019] EWCA Civ 1840; [2020] Bus LR 1073; [2019] WLR(D) 610, CA

Vantaan kaupunki v Skanska Industrial Solutions Oy (Case C-724/17); EU:C:2019:204, ECJ Considered

Asda Stores Ltd v Mastercard Inc [2017] EWHC 93 (Comm); [2017] 4 CMLR 32, QBD Considered

Devenish Nutrition Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis SA [2008] EWCA Civ 1086; [2009] Ch 390; [2009] 3 WLR 198; [2009] Bus LR 858; [2009] 3 All ER 27, CA Applied

BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB Applied

Cases considered in: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2018] EWHC 2616 (Ch); [2019] Bus LR 718; [2018] WLR(D) 514, Ch D

Allied Maples Group Ltd v Simmons & Simmons [1995] 1 WLR 1602; [1995] 4 All ER 907, CA Dicta of Stuart-Smith LJ, [1995] 1 WLR 1602, 1609-1610 not applied

The Albazero [1977] AC 774; [1976] 3 WLR 419; [1976] 3 All ER 129; [1976] 2 Lloyd's Rep 359, HL(E) Applied

British Transport Commission v Gourley [1956] AC 185; [1956] 2 WLR 41; [1955] 3 All ER 796; [1955] 2 Lloyd's Rep 475, HL(E) Applied

Cases Cited

Cases cited in: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2018] EWHC 2616 (Ch); [2019] Bus LR 718; [2018] WLR(D) 514, Ch D

Allied Maples Group Ltd v Simmons & Simmons [1995] 1 WLR 1602; [1995] 4 All ER 907, CA

Asda Stores Ltd v Mastercard Inc [2017] EWHC 93 (Comm); [2017] 4 CMLR 32, QBD

Baker v Willoughby [1970] AC 467; [1970] 2 WLR 50; [1969] 3 All ER 1528; 7 KIR 457, HL(E)

Barker v Corus UK Ltd [2006] UKHL 20; [2006] 2 AC 572; [2006] 2 WLR 1027; [2006] ICR 809; [2006] 3 All ER 785, HL(E)

Blayney t/a Aardvark Jewellery v Clogau St David’s Gold Mines Ltd [2002] EWCA Civ 1007, CA

British Transport Commission v Gourley [1956] AC 185; [1956] 2 WLR 41; [1955] 3 All ER 796; [1955] 2 Lloyd's Rep 475, HL(E)

Bundeswettbewerbsbehörde v Donau Chemie AG (Case C-536/11); EU:C:2013:366; [2013] 5 CMLR 658; [2013] CN 834, ECJ

Chaplin v Hicks [1911] 2 KB 786, CA

Cimenteries CBR SA v Commission of the European Communities (Joined Cases T-25/95, T-26/95, T-30/95 to T-32/95, T-34/95 to T-39/95, T-42/95 to T-46/95, T-48/95, T-50/95 to T-65/95, T-68/95 to T-71/95, T-87/95, T-88/95, T-103/95, T-104/95) EU:T:2000:77; [2000] ECR II-491, CFI

Crehan v Inntrepreneur Pub Co (CPC) (Office of Fair Trading intervening) [2006] UKHL 38; [2007] 1 AC 333; [2006] 3 WLR 148; [2006] ICR 1344; [2006] 4 All ER 465; The Times, 20 July 2006, HL

Cullen v Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary [2003] UKHL 39; [2003] 1 WLR 1763; [2004] 2 All ER 237, HL(NI)

Cutler v Wandsworth Stadium Ltd [1949] AC 398; [1949] 1 All ER 544; 65 TLR 170; (1949) 93 SJ 163, HL

Darlington Borough Council v Wiltshier Northern Ltd [1995] 1 WLR 68; [1995] 3 All ER 895, CA

Davies v Taylor [1974] AC 207; [1972] 3 WLR 801; [1972] 3 All ER 836, HL(E)

Deutsche Bahn AG v Morgan Crucible Co plc [2014] UKSC 24; [2014] Bus LR 377; [2014] 2 All ER 785; [2014] 2 All ER (Comm) 545; [2014] WLR (D) 161; Case details, SC(E)

Devenish Nutrition Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis SA [2007] EWHC 2394 (Ch); [2009] Ch 390; [2008] 2 WLR 637; [2008] Bus LR 600; [2008] 2 All ER 249, Ch D

Emerson Electric Co v Morgan Crucible Co plc (No 4) [2011] CAT 4; [2011] Comp AR 90, CAT

Enron Coal Services Ltd v English Welsh & Scottish Railway Ltd (No 2) [2011] EWCA Civ 2; [2011] UKCLR 303, CA

Forster v Outred & Co [1982] 1 WLR 86; [1982] 2 All ER 753, CA

GUS Property Managment Ltd v Littlewoods Mail Order Stores Ltd 1982 SC (HL) 157; 1982 SLT 533, HL(Sc)

Gestmin SGPS S.A. v Credit Suisse UK Ltd [2013] EWHC 3560 (Comm), QBD

Golden Strait Corpn v Nippon Yusen Kubishika Kaisha (The Golden Victory) [2007] UKHL 12; [2007] 2 AC 353; [2007] 2 WLR 691; [2007] Bus LR 997; [2007] 3 All ER 1; [2007] 2 All ER (Comm) 97; [2007] 2 Lloyd's Rep 164, HL(E)

Grace Shipping Inc v C F Sharp & Co (Malaya) Pte Ltd [1987] 1 Lloyd's Rep 207, CA

Hodgson v Trapp [1989] AC 807; [1988] 3 WLR 1281; [1988] 3 All ER 870, HL(E)

Hussain v New Taplow Paper Mills Ltd [1988] AC 514; [1987] 1 WLR 352; [1988] 2 WLR 266; [1988] ICR 259; [1988] 1 All ER 541, HL(E)

Iberian UK Ltd v BPB Industries plc [1997] ICR 164; [1996] 2 CMLR 601, Ch D

JJB Sports plc v Office of Fair Trading [2004] CAT 17; [2005] Comp AR 29, CAT

Jobling v Associated Dairies Ltd [1982] AC 794; [1981] 3 WLR 155; [1981] 2 All ER 752, HL(E)

Kingdom of the Netherlands v Commission of the European Communities (Case C-164/02); ECLI:EU:C:2004:54; [2004] ECR I-1177, ECJ

Linden Gardens Trust Ltd v Lenesta Sludge Disposals Ltd [1994] 1 AC 85; [1993] 3 WLR 408; [1993] 3 All ER 417, HL(E)

Livingstone v Rawyards Coal Co 5 App Cas 25, HL(Sc)

London, Chatham and Dover Railway Co v South Eastern Railway Co [1893] AC 429, HL

Mallett v McMonagle [1970] AC 166; [1969] 2 WLR 767; [1969] 2 All ER 178; [1969] 1 Lloyd's Rep 127; 6 KIR 322, HL(NI)

McGill v Sports and Entertainment Media Group [2016] EWCA Civ 1063; [2017] 1 WLR 989; [2016] WLR (D) 571, CA

McWilliams v Sir William Arrol & Co Ltd [1962] 1 WLR 295; [1962] 1 All ER 623, HL(Sc)

Offer-Hoar v Larkstore Ltd (Technotrade Ltd, Part 20 defendant) [2006] EWCA Civ 1079; [2006] 1 WLR 2926; [2007] 1 All ER (Comm) 104, CA

P v Liverpool Daily Post and Echo Newspapers Plc [1991] 2 AC 370; [1991] 2 WLR 513; [1991] 1 All ER 622; The Times, 1 February 1991, HL(E)

Palatine Graphic Arts Co Ltd v Liverpool City Council [1986] QB 335; [1986] 2 WLR 285; [1986] 1 All ER 366; 84 LGR 527, CA

Parry v Cleaver [1970] AC 1; [1969] 2 WLR 821; [1969] 1 All ER 555; [1969] 1 Lloyd's Rep 183; 6 KIR 265, HL(E)

Performance Cars Ltd v Abraham [1962] 1 QB 33; [1961] 3 WLR 749; [1961] 3 All ER 413, CA

Prest v Prest [2013] UKSC 34; [2013] 2 AC 415; [2013] 3 WLR 1; [2013] 4 All ER 673; [2013] 2 FLR 732; [2013] WLR (D) 237; Case details, SC(E)

Ratcliffe v Evans [1892] 2 QB 524, CA

Robinson v Harman (1848) 1 Exch 850

SPE International Ltd v Professional Preparation Contractors (UK) Ltd [2002] EWHC 881 (Ch)

Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd v MasterCard Inc [2016] CAT 11; [2016] Comp AR 33, CAT

Sempra Metals Ltd (formerly Metallgesellschaft Ltd) v Inland Revenue Comrs [2007] UKHL 34; [2008] AC 561; [2007] 3 WLR 354; [2008] Bus LR 49; [2007] 4 All ER 657; [2007] STC 1559, HL(E)

Swynson Ltd v Lowick Rose llp (formerly Hurst Morrison Thomson llp) [2017] UKSC 32; [2018] AC 313; [2017] 2 WLR 1161; [2017] 3 All ER 785; [2017] WLR (D) 257; Case details, SC(E)

The Albazero [1977] AC 774; [1976] 3 WLR 419; [1976] 3 All ER 129; [1976] 2 Lloyd's Rep 359, HL(E)

Tiuta International Ltd v De Villiers Surveyors Ltd [2017] UKSC 77; [2017] 1 WLR 4627; [2018] 2 All ER 203; [2018] 2 All ER (Comm) 35; [2018] 1 BCLC 179; [2017] WLR (D) 800; Case details, SC(E)

UBAF Ltd v European American Banking Corpn [1984] QB 713; [1984] 2 WLR 508; [1984] 2 All ER 226; [1984] 1 Lloyd's Rep 258, CA

Watson Laidlaw & Co Ltd v Pott, Cassels & Williamson 1914 SC (HL) 18; 1914 1 SLT 130; 31 RPC 104, HL(Sc)

Wellesley Partners LLP v Withers LLP [2015] EWCA Civ 1146; [2016] Ch 529; [2016] 2 WLR 1351; [2015] WLR (D) 452, CA

Cases cited in: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2018] EWHC 2913 (Ch), Ch D

Ahmed v Jaura [2002] EWCA Civ 210, CA

Intrigue Shipping Inc v Nikitin [2011] EWHC 664 (Comm), QBD

Littlewoods Ltd v Revenue and Customs Comrs [2017] UKSC 70; [2017] WLR (D) 744, SC(E)

Reinhard v Ondra [2015] EWHC 2943 (Ch); [2015] EWHC 2943 (CH), Ch D

Sempra Metals Ltd (formerly Metallgesellschaft Ltd) v Inland Revenue Comrs [2005] EWCA Civ 389; [2006] QB 37; [2005] 3 WLR 521; [2004] STC 1178, CA

Shearson Lehman Hutton Inc v Maclaine Watson & Co Ltd (No 2) [1990] 3 All ER 723; [1990] 1 Lloyd's Rep 441; The Times, 9 January 1990; The Independent, 5 February 1990, QBD

Sycamore Bidco Ltd v Breslin [2013] EWHC 174 (Ch); [2013] CN 226, Ch D

Cases cited in: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2019] EWCA Civ 1840; [2020] Bus LR 1073; [2019] WLR(D) 610, CA

Al-Medenni v Mars UK Ltd [2005] EWCA Civ 1041, CA

Armory v Delamirie (1721) 1 Str 505

Asda Stores Ltd v Mastercard Inc [2017] EWHC 93 (Comm); [2017] 4 CMLR 32, QBD

Attorney-General v Blake (Jonathan Cape Ltd, Third Party) [2001] 1 AC 268; [2000] 3 WLR 625; [2000] 4 All ER 385; [2000] 2 All ER (Comm) 487, HL(E)

Blayney t/a Aardvark Jewellery v Clogau St David’s Gold Mines Ltd [2002] EWCA Civ 1007, CA

British Transport Commission v Gourley [1956] AC 185; [1956] 2 WLR 41; [1955] 3 All ER 796; [1955] 2 Lloyd's Rep 475, HL(E)

Courage Ltd v Crehan (Case C-453/99); EU:C:2001:465; [2002] QB 507; [2001] 3 WLR 1646; [2002] ICR 457; [2001] All ER (EC) 886, ECJ

Darlington Borough Council v Wiltshier Northern Ltd [1995] 1 WLR 68; [1995] 3 All ER 895, CA

Devenish Nutrition Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis SA [2008] EWCA Civ 1086; [2009] Ch 390; [2009] 3 WLR 198; [2009] Bus LR 858; [2009] 3 All ER 27, CA

FAGE UK Ltd v Chobani UK Ltd [2014] EWCA Civ 5; [2014] FSR 29; [2014] ETMR 26; [2014] CN 90; [2014] CTLC 49, CA

GT-Link A/S v De Danske Statsbaner (DSB). (Case C-242/95); EU:C:1997:376, ECJ

GUS Property Management v Littlewoods 1982 SC (HL) 157, HL(Sc)

Garden Cottage Foods Ltd v Milk Marketing Board [1984] AC 130; [1982] 3 WLR 523c; [1983] 3 WLR 143; [1983] 2 All ER 770, HL(E)

Golden Strait Corpn v Nippon Yusen Kubishika Kaisha (The Golden Victory) [2007] UKHL 12; [2007] 2 AC 353; [2007] 2 WLR 691; [2007] Bus LR 997; [2007] 3 All ER 1; [2007] 2 All ER (Comm) 97; [2007] 2 Lloyd's Rep 164, HL(E)

Henderson v Foxworth Investments Ltd [2014] UKSC 41; [2014] 1 WLR 2600; 2014 SC (UKSC) 203; [2014] WLR (D) 290; Case details, SC

Hodgson v Trapp [1989] AC 807; [1988] 3 WLR 1281; [1988] 3 All ER 870, HL(E)

Hussain v New Taplow Paper Mills Ltd [1988] AC 514; [1987] 1 WLR 352; [1988] 2 WLR 266; [1988] ICR 259; [1988] 1 All ER 541, HL(E)

Kone AG v ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG (Case C-557/12); EU:C:2014:917; EU:C:2014:1317; [2015] CMLR 5; [2014] CN 1025, ECJ

Linden Gardens Trust Ltd v Lenesta Sludge Disposals Ltd [1994] 1 AC 85; [1993] 3 WLR 408; [1993] 3 All ER 417, HL(E)

Livingstone v Rawyards Coal Co 5 App Cas 25, HL(Sc)

Manfredi v Lloyd Adriatico Assicurazioni SpA (Case C-298/04); (Case C-297/04); (Case C-296/04); (Joined cases C-295/04 to C-298/04); EU:C:2006:461; [2007] Bus LR 188; [2007] All ER (EC) 27; [2007] RTR 66, ECJ

Moy Park Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis SA [2007] EWHC 2394 (Ch), Ch D

Offer-Hoar v Larkstore Ltd (Technotrade Ltd, Part 20 defendant) [2006] EWCA Civ 1079; [2006] 1 WLR 2926; [2007] 1 All ER (Comm) 104, CA

Parry v Cleaver [1970] AC 1; [1969] 2 WLR 821; [1969] 1 All ER 555; [1969] 1 Lloyd's Rep 183; 6 KIR 265, HL(E)

SPE International Ltd v Professional Preparation Contractors (UK) Ltd [2002] EWHC 881 (Ch)

Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd v MasterCard Inc [2018] EWCA Civ 1536; [2019] Bus LR 198; [2019] 1 All ER 903; [2019] 1 All ER (Comm) 191; [2018] WLR (D) 447, CA

Stoke-on-Trent City Council v J & W Wass Ltd [1988] 1 WLR 1406; [1988] 3 All ER 394; 87 LGR 129, CA

The Albazero [1977] AC 774; [1976] 3 WLR 419; [1976] 3 All ER 129; [1976] 2 Lloyd's Rep 359, HL(E)

Thomson v Christie Manson & Woods Ltd [2005] EWCA Civ 555; [2005] PNLR 38, CA

Tiuta International Ltd v De Villiers Surveyors Ltd [2017] UKSC 77; [2017] 1 WLR 4627; [2018] 2 All ER 203; [2018] 2 All ER (Comm) 35; [2018] 1 BCLC 179; [2017] WLR (D) 800; Case details, SC(E)

Vantaan kaupunki v Skanska Industrial Solutions Oy (Case C-724/17); EU:C:2019:204, ECJ

Watson Laidlaw & Co Ltd v Pott Cassels & Williamson 1914 SC (HL) 18; 1 SLT 130; 1 RPC 104, HL(Sc)

Wheeldon Bros Waste Ltd v Millennium Insurance Co Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 2403; [2019] 4 WLR 56; [2019] 1 All ER 297; [2019] 1 All ER (Comm) 292, CA

Cases citing

Cases citing: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2018] EWHC 2616 (Ch); [2019] Bus LR 718; [2018] WLR(D) 514, Ch D

Achilles Information Ltd v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd [2022] CAT 9, CAT

BASF Corporation & Ors v Carpmaels And Ransford (A Firm) [2021] EWHC 2899 (Ch), Ch D

Bugsby Property LLC v LGIM Commercial Lending Ltd [2022] EWHC 2001 (Comm), QBD

DSG Retail Ltd v Mastercard Inc [2020] EWCA Civ 671; [2020] Bus LR 1360; [2021] 1 All ER (Comm) 63; [2020] WLR (D) 324, CA

Gormsen v Meta Platforms Inc [2023] CAT 10, CAT

Gormsen v Meta Platforms Inc [2024] CAT 11, CAT

Granville Technology Group Ltd v Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd [2024] EWHC 13 (Comm), KBD

Granville Technology Group Ltd v LG Display Co Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 980; [2024] KB 179; [2024] 2 WLR 372; [2024] 2 All ER 819; [2024] 1 All ER (Comm) 957; [2023] WLR(D) 361, CA

Mark McLaren Class Representative Ltd v MOL (Europe Africa) Ltd [2023] CAT 25, CAT

Michael O’Higgins FX Class Representative Ltd v Barclays Bank plc [2022] CAT 16; [2022] Bus LR 1334; [2022] WLR(D) 161, CAT

Royal Mail Group Ltd v DAF Trucks Ltd [2020] EWCA Civ 1475; [2021] Bus LR 1610; [2021] 3 All ER 621, CA

Royal Mail Group Ltd v DAF Trucks Ltd [2020] CAT 7; [2020] Bus LR 1795; [2020] WLR(D) 197, CAT

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd v LG Display Co Ltd [2022] EWCA Civ 423; [2023] 1 All ER 227; [2022] 2 All ER (Comm) 432, CA

Cases citing: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2018] EWHC 2913 (Ch), Ch D

Daimler AG v MOL (Europe Africa) Ltd [2020] EWHC 1802 (Comm), QBD

Geofabrics Ltd v Fiberweb Geosynthetics Ltd [2022] EWHC 2363 (Pat), Ch D

Royal Mail Group Ltd v DAF Trucks Ltd [2023] CAT 6, CAT

Ryder Ltd v MAN SE [2022] CAT 1, CAT

Ryder Ltd v MAN SE [2022] CAT 41, CAT

Ryder Ltd v MAN SE [2020] CAT 3; [2020] Bus LR 1176; [2020] WLR(D) 223, CAT

Cases citing: BritNed Development Ltd v ABB AB [2019] EWCA Civ 1840; [2020] Bus LR 1073; [2019] WLR(D) 610, CA

Eurasian Natural Resources Corpn Ltd v Dechert LLP [2023] EWHC 3280 (Comm), KBD

Gormsen v Meta Platforms Inc [2024] CAT 11, CAT

Gormsen v Meta Platforms Inc [2023] CAT 10, CAT

Peter Victor Lyford v Rose Violet Skinner [2021] EWHC 3783 (QB), QBD

Royal Mail Group Ltd v DAF Trucks Ltd [2023] CAT 6, CAT

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