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E-commerce is unlikely to develop entirely new forms of anti-competitive behaviour that can’t be dealt with under existing anti-competition law, according to a discussion paper from the Office of Fair Trading. E-commerce and its Implications for Competition Policy looked at market definitions and assessed market power, along with individual agreements and conduct.
“Seekhere is in its infancy,” says Tim Henson, director of the eponymous Internet buyers’ guide, “but the information superhighway could make things so easy for buyers in the future.” Seekhere is just 18 months old and is still finding its feet. With £500,000-worth of financial backing, Henson predicts that the site will be on a firmer footing by November.
The founders of construction e-procurement portal e-cement.com have formed a new firm to cater for heavy industry. Astrata will offer e-tendering and ae-auction tools for sectors including chemicals, industrial gases, paper, steel and transport.
Automotive components manufacturer Wagon plans to open an aluminium parts factory in the West Midlands. The multi-million pound plant is intended to complement Wagon’s French factory, which supplies Renault. The group is in talks with several of its larger clients to confirm a launch order to raise capital for the venture.
The government’s renewable energy strategy was dealt a blow when the energy regulator warned that building wind farms and hydro-electric schemes in Scotland would be an ineffective use of money. Callum McCarthy told a cross-party committee of MPs that the cost of transmitting power over long distances was prohibitive.