On November 29, 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority published a Statement of Objections issued to four asset management firms under the Competition Act 1998. Using its competition enforcement powers for the first time, the FCA alleges that Artemis Investment Management LLP, Hargreave Hale Ltd, Newton Investment Management Limitedand River & Mercantile Asset Management LLP shared information by exchanging information concerning the pricethey intended to pay in relation to initial public offerings and a placing, shortly before the prices were set. The FCA's provisional view is that they have infringed competition law. The firms have the opportunity to respond to the allegations. Individuals that could materially assist in the FCA's assessment of the case may request a non-confidential version of the statement of objections from FCA by no later than January 12, 2018.

The FCA's Statement of Objections is available at: https://www.fca.org.uk/news/press-releases/fca-issues-firststatement-objections-four-asset-management-firms .

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