Germany Q&A

Effect of public proceedings^[2]

1 What is your country’s primary competition authority?

The Bundeskartellamt (the Federal Cartel Office (FCO)) in Bonn.

2 Does your competition authority have investigatory power? Can it bring criminal proceedings based on competition violations?

The FCO has investigatory powers. For instance, it can carry out inspections and seize evidence. The criminal proceedings that the FCO can bring are limited to administrative offences. The public prosecutor can bring proceedings based on bid rigging. Some competition law violations may also be prosecuted as fraud.

3 Can private antitrust claims proceed parallel to investigations and proceedings brought by competition authorities and criminal prosecutors and appeals from them?

Yes, private antitrust claims can be brought in parallel. However, these stand-alone private claims are rather uncommon as most claimants prefer to base their litigation claims on the competition authority’s fining decision, which is binding for the courts (see question 5). Also, the competition authorities’ proceedings suspend the limitation period of antitrust damages claims (see question 22), which allows claimants to wait for the fining decision to base their claims on its binding effect.

4 Is there any mechanism for staying a stand-alone private claim while a related public investigation or proceeding (or an appeal) is pending?

It lies in the discretion of the court to stay the proceedings while a related public investigation or proceeding (or an appeal) is pending. Some commentators take the view that Article 16 of the Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 requires the court to stay the proceedings while there are pending investigations by the EU Commission, following the Court of Justice of the European Union’s (ECJ) Masterfood decision (Paragraph 57). There is no such obligation with regard to proceedings initiated by the FCO.^[3]

5 Are the findings of competition authorities and court decisions binding or persuasive in follow-on private antitrust cases? Do they have an evidentiary value or create a rebuttable presumption that the competition laws were violated? Are foreign enforcers’ decisions taken into account? Can decisions by sector-specific regulators be used by private claimants?

Findings by the EU Commission in decisions are binding in follow-on private antitrust cases, according to Article 16 of the Regulation (EC) No 1/2003. According to Section 33(b) GWB, final decisions by German and other EU Member States’ competition authorities (including final decisions of competent courts of EU Member States acting as such competition authority) are binding in follow-on private antitrust cases with regard to damages claims. Fining decisions of non-EU competition authorities are not binding, but might nevertheless have a persuasive effect in follow-on damages proceedings.

The binding effect means that in the follow-on proceedings it is irrefutably established that the addressees of the fining decision violated antitrust law. However, the binding effect does not extend to the existence of harm and its causal relationship to the competition law infringement (see question 23).

Moreover, where a final decision is made by other EU Member States’ competition authorities or competent courts regarding violations of the EU Member States’ national competition rules, which pursue (mainly) the same purpose as Articles 101 or 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the competent German courts can qualify this decision as prima facie evidence for a violation of these rules.

The Energy Industry Act provides for a similar binding effect of decisions by the German Federal Network Agency for private damages claims.

6 Do immunity or leniency applicants in competition investigations receive any beneficial treatment in follow-on private antitrust cases?

First, access to leniency applications or settlement submissions will not be granted to claimants (see question 7) – however, pre-existing information (i.e., evidence that exists irrespective of the proceedings of a competition authority) can be disclosed.

Second, the immunity recipient is jointly and severally liable only for damage suffered by his or her customers or suppliers (as well as their respective customers or suppliers).^[4] The immunity recipient is jointly and severally liable to other injured parties only where full compensation cannot be obtained from the other cartel members and where claims against the other cartel members are not time-barred.^[5]

To secure their privileged position, immunity recipients are also privileged in the internal recourse between the jointly and severally liable cartel members. The internal recourse is limited to the amount of damage the immunity recipient is liable for with regard to his own direct customers and suppliers.^[6] This privilege vis-à-vis the other cartel members does not apply to damages claims of injured parties other than the direct or indirect purchasers or providers of the infringers, namely primarily in the case of an umbrella pricing.^[7]

These privileges are only applicable to damages claims that have arisen after 26 December 2016 (see Section 186(3) GWB), that is, with regard to claims that arose before this date leniency applicants do not receive such a beneficial treatment. The 10th Amendment of the GWB has now codified for the first time specific requirements for the application of the leniency programme (Sections 81(h)–(n) GWB).

7 Can plaintiffs obtain access to competition authority or prosecutors’ files or the documents the authorities collected during their investigations? How accessible is information prepared for or during public proceedings by the authority or commissioned by third parties?

In proceedings where a fining decision has been issued, claimants can request access to the FCO’s files pursuant to Sections 406(e) and 475 Criminal Procedure Code (StPO) – with the exception of leniency applications, the documents submitted with them and business secrets. The FCO usually tries to persuade the claimant to limit his or her request to the final decision. Access to FCO’s files is usually granted only after the decision has been handed down. Before access is granted, the defendant has a right to be heard. Also, third-party interests are taken into account. For example, if a third party was requested by the FCO to submit information, it will also be heard (and should request to be heard) and may identify business secrets it wishes to be excluded from access.

For proceedings where decisions other than fining decisions have been issued, the 10th Amendment of the GWB introduced the right to request disclosure of this final decision (Section 56(5) GWB).

Further to this, the 9th Amendment of the GWB introduced a new – for German standards, quite extensive – discovery procedure.^[8]

First, claimants can file a motion according to which the court handling the damages claims shall request from the competent cartel authority disclosure of information which is contained in this cartel authority’s files (Section 89(c)(1) GWB). To this end, the claimant has to substantiate his claim and that it is not possible for him or her to obtain the information from the other party or from a third person with reasonable effort. However, some categories of evidence are shielded from disclosure, e.g., leniency applications, the authority’s internal notes. Apart from this the court can dismiss the inspection of certain information if this is necessary for important reasons.

Second, claimants can also request disclosure of relevant information from parties to (potential) cartel damages proceedings as well as from third parties. This is quite unique in German procedural law. Pursuant to Section 33g(1), (2) GWB, parties and third parties are – if requested – obliged to disclose evidence that is necessary to substantiate a cartel damages claim or to defend oneself against such a claim. The claimant has to present a reasoned request that contains reasonably available facts and evidence that is sufficient to support the plausibility of its claim for damages (usually the decision of a competition authority). The evidence that he or she requests has to be described as precisely and as narrowly as possible on the basis of all reasonably available facts. In accordance with Section 33(g)(4) GWB, documents containing leniency applications or settlement submissions are shielded from disclosure. Furthermore, in ongoing cartel proceedings, information that was prepared specifically for the proceedings, correspondence from the competition authority to the parties of the procedure and settlement submissions that have been withdrawn are also shielded from disclosure (see Section 33(g)(5) GWB).

Further to this, according to Section 89(b)(5) GWB, the claimant can request access to the final decision of the competition authority from the defendant by way of a preliminary injunction. It is disputed among German courts whether the claimant needs to demonstrate that the matter is particularly urgent. According to some German courts Section 89(b) GWB provides for a presumption that the matter is urgent which, however, is refutable. This view has been adopted by the Higher Regional Court of Dusseldorf in its decision of 3 April 2018 (case VI-W (Kart) 2/18; confirmed by case VI-W (Kart) 2/18, decision of 7 May 2018). In contrast, the District Court of Hannover^[9] adopted the view that a preliminary injunction under Section 89(b)(5) GWB does not require the matter to be urgent. This dispute has been clarified by the German legislator. Following the 10th Amendment of the GWB Section 89(b)(5) GWB now explicitly states that urgency is no prerequisite for obtaining a preliminary injunction.

It was disputed among German courts whether the provisions in Sections 89(c)(1) GWB Section 33(g)(1), (2) GWB and 89(b)(5) GWB should be applicable to claims that were filed after 26 December 2016 irrespective of when they arose. This dispute has now been resolved by the 10th Amendment of the GWB. Section 186(4) GWB now states that the discovery provisions in Section 33(g) and 89(b) GWB apply to all legal disputes that were initiated after 26 December 2016, irrespective of when the damages claim arose.

8 Is information submitted by leniency applicants shielded from subsequent disclosure to private claimants?

Leniency applications are shielded from subsequent disclosure.^[10] However, this does not apply to pre-existing information that exists irrespective of the proceedings of a competition authority (see question 6).

9 Is information submitted in a cartel settlement protected from disclosure?

Prior to the 9th Amendment of the GWB, information submitted in a cartel settlement was only protected from disclosure as far as it contained business secrets; see questions 6 and 7.

Under the current regime, settlement submissions are protected from disclosure^[11] (see questions 6 and 7).

10 How is confidential information or commercially sensitive information submitted by third parties in an investigation treated in private antitrust damages claims?

Access to the competition authority’s files with regard to claims that were filed before 26 December 2016 is granted to claimants in accordance with Sections 406(e) and 475 StPO (see question 7). When granting access to files, the FCO, the public prosecutor or the courts will consider third-party interests where their business secrets are affected (see question 7). Generally, confidential information or commercially sensitive information submitted by third parties may be brought forward in private antitrust lawsuits. Third parties can best prevent sensitive information from being submitted in private antitrust damages claims by requesting the FCO not to grant access to this information, by refusing to testify with regard to this information and by refusing to submit documents containing this information (see question 27).

Under the new regime (see question 7 with regard to the temporal scope of the new regime), the disclosure of evidence has to meet the standards of Sections 33(g)(1), 89(c)(1) GWB. A party can refuse to disclose evidence to the extent it would have a right to refuse testimony in a private action for (antitrust) damages.^[12] The courts can, nonetheless, order a party to disclose evidence containing confidential information where they consider it relevant to the action for damages.^[13] However, the courts have to take effective measures to protect such information during the proceedings.^[14]

Commencing a private antitrust action

11 On what grounds does a private antitrust cause of action arise?

The legal grounds are Section 33(a)(1) GWB, Section 823(2) German Civil Code (BGB) in conjunction with the respective German or EU antitrust provision and Section 826 BGB.

12 What forms of monetary relief may private claimants seek?

Claimants may seek compensation for damage, interest on those damage and reimbursement for legal fees as provided by statutory law (see question 40). Treble or other sorts of punitive damages are not available. In accordance with general principles of German civil law, cartel damages claims are to put the claimant in a position to recover the damage the claimant actually suffered, neither less nor more.

13 What forms of non-monetary relief may private claimants seek?

Claimants may seek a cease-and-desist order and in rem restitution, for example, supply and delivery or access obligations.

14 Who has standing to bring claims?

Generally, everyone who has suffered damage may bring claims. In 2011, the German Federal Supreme Court^[15] held that both direct and indirect customers may bring claims. This has been confirmed in several decisions by lower courts. The same should be true for direct and indirect suppliers. Competitors that suffered from the infringement may also bring claims.

According to a judgment of the ECJ, it is also conceivable for claimants to claim damages from cartel members on the grounds that their suppliers outside the cartel raised their prices due to the cartel (‘umbrella pricing’). To this end the German Federal Supreme Court^[16] held that in cases where a cartel existed for a longer period and affected a considerable market share, umbrella pricing can generally be presumed.

The claims are usually directed against the cartel members. It can also extend to group companies. The ECJ^[17] held that the concept of ‘undertaking’ within the meaning of Article 101 TFEU also applies to damages for infringement of EU competition rules. The court ruled that if companies took part in a cartel prohibited by Article 101 TFEU; all shares in these companies were acquired by other companies; and these acquiring companies dissolved the former companies and have continued their commercial activities, these acquiring companies can be held liable for the damage caused by the cartel. Following this decision by the ECJ, a German district court^[18] extended the liability for private antitrust claims not only to the addressees of a fining decision but also to its affiliates. On 3 December 2019, a request for a preliminary ruling was submitted to the ECJ,^[19] in the context of which the ECJ has to consider whether the liability of the parent company can also be extended to the subsidiary. In its judgment of 6 October 2021, the ECJ ruled that under certain circumstances the subsidiary can be held liable for cartel damages even if the corresponding fining decision was directed against the parent entity only.

15 In what forums can private antitrust claims be brought in your country?

Claims can be brought before district courts (Landgerichte). Generally, every district court at the place where the harmful event occurred or where a cartel victim has its registered seat, has jurisdiction to hear a private antitrust claim. However, most German states have issued legislation concentrating private antitrust claims in certain district courts.

16 What are the jurisdictional rules? If more than one forum has jurisdiction, what is the process for determining where the claims are heard?

The international jurisdiction of German courts is determined by Regulation (EC) No 1215/2012 (Brussels I(a)), international treaties regarding jurisdiction and German procedural law.

In its landmark decision Hydrogen Peroxide, the ECJ^[20] held that, according to Article 6(1) of the Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 (since 10 January 2015: Article 8(1) of the Regulation (EU) No. 1215/2012), cartel members who are situated in different Member States, have committed a single and continuous infringement of EU antitrust law and are held jointly and severally liable for the damage resulting from this infringement can jointly be sued before a court where only one of them is domiciled (‘anchor defendant’). This has been confirmed in several judgments by German courts since then.

Furthermore, this judgment of the ECJ has clarified the requirements to establish jurisdiction under Article 5(3) of Regulation (EC) No. 44/2001 (since 10 January 2015: Article 7(2) of the Regulation (EU) No. 1215/2012). According to this provision the courts ‘at the place where the harmful event occurred’ have jurisdiction. The ECJ held that according to this provision the courts have jurisdiction where the cartel was definitively concluded; or, if applicable, a particular agreement was made which was the sole cause for the damages claimed by the claimant. Furthermore, the ECJ specified that generally the court where the claimant’s registered office is located has jurisdiction (i.e., as the place where the market prices were distorted and in which the victim claims to have suffered that damage). The ECJ^[21] clarified that this even applies if the legal action is filed against a co-cartelist with whom the claimant had not established contractual relations.

Jurisdiction clauses in supply contracts may generally only be taken into account in this context, if they refer to disputes regarding liability for infringement of competition law (regarding the applicability of arbitration clauses, see question 57).

If the regulations provide for jurisdiction of German courts, the claimant may choose a German court within the limits described in question 15.

17 Can claims be brought based on foreign law? If so how does the court determine what law applies to the claim?

Claims can be brought based on foreign law. The applicable law is determined by Article 6(3) of the Regulation (EC) No. 864/2007 (Rome II) and domestic international private law.

18 Give details of any preliminary requirement for starting a claim. Must plaintiffs post security or pay a filing fee? How is service of claim affected?

Claimants must pay a filing fee to initiate court proceedings. The filing fee is determined by the amount in dispute, which is capped by legal statute at an amount of €30 million. Assuming the value in dispute is €30 million or higher, the filing fee would amount to approximately €330,000 for the first instance. If the claim is raised by a non-EU citizen or company, the claimant, on the defendant’s request, would have to post security for the legal fees to be reimbursed to the defendants if the damages claim is dismissed (see question 40). Depending on the number of defendants, those costs can amount to more than €1 million.

19 What is the limitation period for private antitrust claims?

Under German law, two limitation periods are relevant: the regular limitation period and the maximum limitation period. Both limitation periods run in parallel and independently from each other. As soon as either the regular limitation period or the maximum limitation period lapses, the claim becomes time-barred.

Prior to the 9th Amendment of the GWB, the regular limitation period for private antitrust claims was three years commencing at the end of the year in which the claim arose and the claimant obtained or ought to have obtained the relevant knowledge.^[22] Under the new regime, the regular limitation period for private antitrust claims is five years commencing at the end of the year in which the claim has arisen, the claimant obtained or ought to have obtained the relevant knowledge and the competition violation has ended.^[23] This five-year regular limitation period is applicable to claims that have not become time-barred by 9 June 2017.^[24]

Therefore, in practice it is crucial to determine at what point in time the claimant obtained the required level of knowledge and became aware of the circumstances giving rise to the claim. So far, case law provides for different approaches as to which event triggers the relevant knowledge for cartel damages claims. If no other evidence is available, German courts tend to assume that claimants should – at the earliest – have obtained knowledge on the day when the press reported on the relevant fining decision.^[25] In addition to this, in its decision of 12 June 2018,^[26] the German Federal Supreme Court adopted a more claimant-friendly view. It held that the limitation is not already triggered on the day when the press reports were issued on the fining decision. As the preparation of a legal action usually requires more information than what is published in press articles, the limitation period is only triggered as soon as the claimant obtained or could have obtained access to the competition authority’s files. Therefore, the limitation period is triggered on the day of the press release plus a period of time a diligent claimant would need to inspect and to analyse the file (e.g., in the case decided this additional time period was estimated as 10 months).

The maximum limitation period runs 10 years from the day the claim arose – irrespective of whether the claimant had or should have had knowledge of the claim or not.^[27] Under the new regime, this maximum 10-year limitation period only starts to run once the competition violation has ended.^[28]

20 Are those time limits procedural or part of the substantive law? What is the effect of their expiry?

Time limitations are objections and part of the substantive law. When expired, they bar the claim. They are only taken into account if asserted by the defendant.

21 When does the limitation period start to run?

See question 19.

22 What, if anything, can suspend the running of the limitation period?

Private antitrust claims are suspended by the initiation of antitrust proceedings by a competition authority.^[29] The suspension period ends one year after the final and binding decision in the antitrust proceedings has been issued or the antitrust proceedings have ended otherwise.^[30] This period of one year ensures that the claimant has enough time to gather evidence and to assert the damages claims. Section 33(h) GWB is applicable to claims that were not time-barred on 9 June 2017; see Section 186(3) sentence 2 GWB.

Moreover, an action for disclosure based on Section 33(g) GWB suspends the limitation period of a private antitrust damages claim if it has been filed from 9 June 2017 onwards.^[31] The limitation period is also suspended by bringing an action for damages or bringing an action for discovery. In the period between the conclusion of the antitrust proceedings, plus a year and bringing an action, the claims may become time-barred.

Claimants have various options to avoid that their claims become time-barred. Most common is the agreement of a waiver of the defence of limitation for a limited period of time. Alternatives are, for instance, arranging for notice to be given of an application for conciliation filed with a conciliation body^[32] or the service of a demand for payment in summary proceedings for recovery of debt or of the European order for payment in the European order for payment procedure.^[33] Suspension is a ‘stop-the-clock’ rule. After the suspension ends, the clock starts ticking from where it has stopped. The suspension also applies to the maximum limitation period.

23 What pleading standards must the plaintiff meet to start a stand-alone or follow-on claim?

The claimant has to substantiate all the requirements for the damages claim, namely that the defendants infringed antitrust law, the defendant acted negligently and that, as a result of this antitrust violation, the claimant suffered damages in a certain amount. As to the requirement of an antitrust infringement the claimant can rely on a competition authority’s decision, which has a binding effect (see question 5).

Usually the biggest challenge for a claimant is to substantiate the damage suffered due to the cartel.

For claims that arose before 26 December 2016, claimants generally bear the burden of proof as to the question whether the cartel caused a price increase. However, German courts have lowered this burden of proof to the benefit of cartel damages claimants. In its judgment of 28 January 2020 the German Federal Supreme Court^[34] clarified that not only the amount of damage but also the question whether the claimant’s purchases were affected by the cartel can be assessed by an estimate.

Furthermore, in its judgment of 11 December 2018,^[35] the German Federal Supreme Court held that – even though a prima facie evidence does not apply – it can generally be presumed that a cartel caused a price increase. Whether or not a price increase can be presumed needs to be determined based on an overall assessment of all facts presented. The German Federal Supreme Court has confirmed this in recent judgments.^[36]

For claims that arose after 26 December 2016, Section 33(a)(2) GWB establishes the rebuttable presumption that cartel infringements generally cause harm to customers. The 10th Amendment of the GWB introduced a rebuttable presumption in Section 33(a)(2) GWB that legal transactions with undertakings involved in a cartel regarding goods or services falling within the product, temporal and geographic scope of the cartel are covered by the cartel.

However, it is important to note that neither the rebuttable presumption nor the prima facie evidence extend to the question in which amount the claimant suffered damage. Insofar the claimant bears the burden of proof, even though under German procedural law the standard of proof is lowered which entitles the court to estimate the damage suffered.^[37] Nevertheless, the calculation of damages is typically rather complicated and requires advice by economical experts.

24 Is interim relief available? What must plaintiffs show for the court to grant interim relief?

Interim relief is granted if the claimant presents prima facie evidence proving the urgency of the matter and shows that interim relief is required to avoid damage that is either difficult to reverse or irreversible. This is in practice only conceivable for cease-and-desist orders and in rem restitution (see question 13).

25 What options does the defendant have in responding to the claims and seeking early resolution of the case?

The defendant can submit a statement of defence requesting partial or full dismissal of the claim and it may file counterclaims. Options to seek early resolution of the claim are limited. One option is to suggest to the court to issue a judgment on the non-admissibility of the claim in advance. However, the court can stay the proceedings on the merits until a judgment on the appeal (and possibly a further appeal) of the admissibility judgment is handed down.

Disclosure or discovery

26 What types of disclosure or discovery are available? Describe any limitations and the courts’ usual practice in ordering disclosure or discovery.

In German court proceedings, each party has to produce the evidence supporting its line of reasoning. The court does not investigate evidence ex officio. However, the court may order a party or a third person to present a specified document. It lies within the court’s discretion to issue such an order.

Only under strict requirements can the opposing party be compelled to produce a document. Only if a document to be produced is specified in detail and if the requesting party establishes that it is entitled to request the production of this document under German civil law, would German courts issue a production order.

The 9th and 10th Amendment of the GWB implemented a substantial change to these general standards in relation to cartel damages claims. In Sections 33(g), 56, 89(b) and 89(c) GWB the new law introduced a broader disclosure regime. Now both claimants and defendants can request documents that are necessary to substantiate a claim for cartel damages or to defend against such a claim respectively.

The party seeking disclosure has to identify the requested documents as precisely as possible.^[38] Such a disclosure is not allowed to the extent it is unreasonable taking into account the legitimate interests of the parties.^[39] This balancing of interests, among other things, has to take into account the likely costs and scope of the requested disclosure as well as the interests of the other party to protect its business secrets. Furthermore, certain documents are excluded from disclosure; in particular documents containing applications for leniency (see question 7).

The claimant can commence a legal action to pursue its claim for the production of documents even before a claim for damages has been brought. Upon request of one of the parties, the court can also ask competition authorities to disclose evidence to a certain extent.^[40]

27 How do the courts treat confidential information that might be required to be disclosed or that is responsive to a discovery proceeding? Is such information treated differently for trial?

All information that is submitted in the court proceedings is disclosed to the other party. The public can be excluded if business secrets are discussed. Witnesses may refuse to testify if and to the extent their answers would reveal business secrets.

In the context of the new disclosure regime the court has to determine whether disclosure would be proportionate and therefore especially consider the protection of business secrets (see question 26). Likewise, there are exceptions to the right of disclosure regarding, for example, documents containing applications for leniency (see question 26).

28 What protection, if any, do your courts grant attorney–client communications or attorney materials? Are any other forms of privilege recognised?

Attorney–client communications are granted protection. If the attorney is named as a witness, he or she may refuse to testify insofar as the attorney–client relationship is affected.

Trial

29 Describe the trial process.

The usual course of the process is statement of claim; statement of defence; usually, several additional statements by the parties; hearing and taking of evidence; and judgment. In case of complex cartel damages claims the hearing may be split into several hearings extending over months.

30 How is evidence given or admitted at trial?

Witnesses and expert witnesses generally have to appear before the court to testify. Representatives of the parties, such as the managing directors, are not allowed to testify as a witness. Documents may be produced at the parties’ discretion. Expert opinions on factual issues (e.g., regarding the calculation of damage) are rendered by experts commissioned by the court.

31 Are experts used in private antitrust litigation in your country? If so, what types of experts, how are they used, and by whom are they chosen or appointed?

Experts are commonly used in private antitrust damages claim trials. As such trials are usually follow-on trials, experts are involved to identify the amount of damage and their causal relation to the competition law infringement. Parties may submit reports by their own experts. Such reports do not constitute formal proof, but substantiate the parties’ arguments. The court also can (and often does) appoint an expert to make a report. Usually, experts are economists who undertake to calculate the loss and causal relationships by economic models and empirical data. Experts appointed by the court usually render their opinion in writing and also appear in oral hearings to be interviewed on their report. The court may appoint the expert witness ex officio or following an application by a party.

32 What must private claimants prove to obtain a final judgment in their favour?

The material requirements according to German law are that the defendant has negligently or intentionally infringed antitrust law and that the claimant has suffered damage due to this infringement. As to the first requirement a final decision by the EU Commission, the FCO or the competition authorities of other EU Member States assess the infringement with binding effect (see question 5). Regarding claims arising after 26 December 2016, the law provides for rebuttable presumptions that a cartel caused damage and that certain legal transactions are covered by the cartel under certain circumstances (see question 23). Consequently, in the case of a follow-on claim the claimant only has to prove the amount of damage the claimant suffered due to the cartel. Typically, the damage suffered results from the artificial cartel price and a loss of profits. As a first step, the claimant has to substantiate his or her allegations. If contested by the defendant, the claimant needs to provide evidence for the allegations (see questions 30 and 31). If the underlying supply contracts contain valid clauses providing for the payment of a lump-sum in case of a cartel, the burden of proving that less or no damage was suffered by the claimant shifts to the defendant.^[41] The German Federal Supreme Court^[42] recently held that clauses in the general terms and conditions of a supply contract providing for a lump-sum damages payments of up to 15 per cent of the purchase price can in principle be admissible.

33 Are there any defences unique to private antitrust litigation? If so, which party bears the burden of proving these defences?

The defendant has to demonstrate at least a likely passing-on scenario and that the passing-on was a result of the cartel and not of the claimant’s sales efforts. In 2011, the German Federal Supreme Court specified the relevant requirements in its ORWI judgment.^[43] Now, Section 33(c) GWB states the requirements of the passing-on defence and, accordingly, the presumption of the indirect purchaser’s passing-on offence.

34 How long do private antitrust cases usually last (not counting appeals)?

As German courts have become more familiar with private antitrust litigation matters in recent years, the duration of court proceedings has decreased significantly, in particular in cases where a court only decides on the merits. In these cases a first instance judgment can often be obtained in less than a year. However, very complex court proceedings in private antitrust litigation matters, in particular if they involve multiple international parties, usually take much longer.

35 Who is the decision-maker at trial?

The case will either be decided by one professional judge or by a panel of three judges. There are no jury trials.

Damages, costs and funding

36 What is the evidentiary burden on plaintiffs to quantify the damages?

According to Section 33(a)(3) GWB in conjunction with Section 287 ZPO (German Code of Civil Procedure) the court may estimate the damages. However, the claimant has to submit the facts on which the court can base its estimate of damages. As the calculation of damages in cartel damages cases is often very complicated in practice, claimants typically submit comprehensive economic expert reports to substantiate the amount of damages.

37 How are damages calculated?

Damages are calculated by assessing the difference between the actual, cartelised price and the hypothetical price that would have been charged without the cartel agreement. Usually, evidence needs to be taken in order to determine the hypothetical price in a cartel free market (the ‘but for’ analysis). To this effect the German Federal Supreme Court prefers methods comparing other markets to the cartelised market. Those markets may be the same product market in another geographic region, another product market with comparable features, the same market in another time period, or a combination of these markets. Courts often deduct a safety margin to take account of uncertainties in the comparison. Usually both the parties and the court instruct expert witnesses to conduct this analysis (see question 31).

38 Does your country recognise joint and several liabilities for private antitrust claims?

Yes, defendants who took part in the same infringement are jointly and severally liable towards the cartel victims, irrespective of whether this cartel victim purchased a cartelised product from them or not. The German Federal Supreme Court held that companies who entered into a general basic agreement of prohibited conduct in principle are jointly and severally liable for all damage caused by this coordinated conduct. ^[44]

Under the old regime (i.e., regarding claims that arose before 26 December 2016) immunity recipients are not privileged. In connection with claims that arose after 26 December 2016 the immunity recipient’s joint and several liability is generally limited to damage suffered by its own direct and indirect customers (see question 6).

39 Can a defendant seek contribution or indemnity from other defendants, including leniency applicants, or third parties? Does the law make a clear distinction between contribution and indemnity in antitrust cases?

A defendant can seek contribution from other cartel members, including those who are not defendants in the same legal action. Furthermore, for cartel damages claims that arose before 26 December 2016, immunity recipients are liable for contribution as well and do not benefit from any privileges (see question 6).

The provisions under the former legal regime did not specify to what extent joint and several debtors are liable in relation to one another. There is also little guidance from case law. Thus, for claims that arose before 26 December 2016, it is highly disputed among scholars how the liability should be attributed between the jointly and severally liable co-cartelists (e.g., by market share, by share of commerce with the respective claimant, according to the co-cartelists’ contribution to the antitrust infringement (e.g., ringleader), or in equal shares).

For damage suffered after 26 December 2016, Section 33(d)(2) GWB provides that the liability shall be attributed according to each co-cartelist’s contribution to the antitrust infringement. This is a general rule from which courts may deviate if they find appropriate. Thus, the cartelist’s share of liability is to be determined case by case.

According to Section 33(e)(3) GWB, the immunity recipient is privileged. This applies to claims that arose after 26 December 2016. To this end, co-cartelists can generally only seek contribution from immunity recipients to the extent that they compensated the immunity recipients’ direct or indirect customers. Only regarding damages suffered due to an umbrella pricing by non-cartelists, immunity recipients are not privileged.

Finally, if a co-cartelist has settled with the claimant, this co-cartelist may not be held liable for contribution claims by the other co-cartelists, namely, not only in the amount that this co-cartelist paid under the settlement agreement but in the amount that corresponds with his or her actual share of liability.^[45]

40 Can prevailing parties recover attorneys’ and court fees and other costs? How are costs calculated?

Prevailing parties can recover attorneys’ fee and court costs. However, the refundable costs are capped by legal statute. The costs are calculated according to the German Attorneys’ Fees Act on the basis of the amount in dispute (see question 18). However, most attorneys specialised in competition law or litigation do not charge fees on that basis but on an hourly basis. The refundable costs are, therefore, usually lower than what an attorney specialised in competition law or litigation will charge.

41 Are there circumstances where a party’s liability to pay costs or ability to recover costs may be limited?

The refundable legal costs that the prevailing party can demand are limited by legal statute (see question 40).

42 May attorneys act for claimants on a contingency or conditional fee basis? How are such fees calculated?

Most attorneys specialised in competition law or litigation charge fees on an hourly basis (see question 40). Generally, attorneys may not act for claimants on a conditional fee basis except for contingency fees under exceptional circumstances. The fee has to be appropriate and may be, inter alia, a fixed fee, a multiple of the Attorneys’ Fees Act fee or a percentage of the recovered damages.

43 Is litigation funding lawful in your country? May plaintiffs sell their claims to third parties?

Yes, litigation funding is lawful and has become increasingly popular in the past few years. In particular litigation funding companies from common law jurisdictions have entered the German market.

Present case law accepts third-party prosecution of damages claims with minor restrictions. The German Federal Supreme Court ruled that actions by claim vehicles such as Cartel Damage Claims SA (CDC) are admissible. However, the Higher Regional Court of Dusseldorf^[46] held that a lawsuit brought by the claim vehicle CDC was unfounded since the scheme used by CDC violated public policy: the claims vehicle acting as claimant was found to be underfunded, thus shifting the litigation risks to the defendants.

Furthermore, there are formal requirements for the assignment of claims under the German Legal Services Act.^[47] In a recent decision that did, however, not deal with cartel damages claims the German Federal Supreme Court^[48] held that assignments of various claims against the same debtor to a company that is registered under the Legal Services Act are possible even if the only or primary goal of such ‘class action collection’ is to assert these assigned claims in court and if the assignee receives a success fee.

44 May defendants insure themselves against the risk of private antitrust claims? Is after-the-event insurance available for antitrust claims?

After-the-event insurance is generally available in Germany.

Appeal

45 Is there a right to appeal or is permission required?

There is a right to appeal. Permission is not required.

46 Who hears appeals? Is further appeal possible?

Appeals in cartel damages claims litigation are heard by the higher regional courts (Oberlandesgerichte). The possibility of a further appeal to the German Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgerichtshof) is limited. The further appeal is only possible if the higher regional court that heard the first appeal grants leave to further appeal in its judgment or – if the higher regional court refuses to do so – the German Federal Supreme Court grants leave to further appeal upon application by the losing party. A further appeal is only allowed in relation to legal issues and if the case is of fundamental legal importance.

47 What are the grounds for appeal against a decision of a private enforcement action?

The first appeal may be based on errors in the finding of the facts and the legal assessment. The further appeal to the German Federal Supreme Court is limited to errors in the legal assessment.

Collective, representative and class actions

48 Does your country have a collective, representative or class action process in private antitrust cases? How common are they?

A joinder of actions is available if there is a sufficient nexus. Representative actions can be brought by certain organisations (see question 49). So far, these have been practically irrelevant for cartel damages actions. Class actions are still not available in Germany, though their introduction for cartel damages claims is a much-discussed topic in Germany for many years.

49 Who can bring these claims? Can consumer associations bring claims on behalf of consumers? Can trade or professional associations bring claims on behalf of their members?

Pursuant to Section 33(4) GWB, professional or trade associations whose members are affected by the cartel and consumer associations can bring actions for cease-and-desist orders and for skimming off cartel revenues (to the benefit of the government only – this is probably a reason why such actions have been practically irrelevant for cartel damages claims so far).

Claim vehicles have established various models to bundle claims. The persons presumably damaged by a cartel assign their claim to the claim vehicle and the claim vehicle collectively brings those claims in court (see question 43).

50 What is the standard for establishing a class or group?

Class actions are not available.

51 Are there any other threshold criteria that have to be met?

Class actions are not available.

52 How are damages assessed in these types of actions?

Class actions are not available.

53 Describe the process for settling these claims, including how damages or settlement amounts are apportioned and distributed.

Class actions are not available.

54 Does your country recognise any form of collective settlement in the absence of such claims being made? If so, how are such settlements given force and can such arrangements cover parties from outside the jurisdiction?

Collective settlement in the absence of such claims being made is not available.

55 Can a competition authority impose mandatory redress schemes or allow voluntary redress schemes?

No. But if the FCO provides a substantiated assessment of the cartel’s margin, that would be a strong argument in private damages claims actions. Currently, it appears rather unlikely that the FCO will make such substantiated assessment under the current fining guidelines. A finding by the EU Commission on damages would be binding but is equally unlikely.

Arbitration and ADR

56 Are private antitrust disputes arbitrable under the laws of your country?

Yes.

57 Will courts generally enforce an agreement to arbitrate an antitrust dispute? What are the exceptions?

The existence of a compulsory agreement to arbitrate renders litigation before regular courts inadmissible (if a corresponding objection is made by a party). If a purchase agreement provides for an arbitration clause, it should be checked if it covers cartel damages claims based on tort. The Regional Court of Dortmund has held that an arbitration clause in a supply contract that generally referred to ‘all disputes in connection with this contract’ also encompasses cartel damages claims; namely, the court rendered the legal action inadmissible and dismissed it for this reason.^[49]

58 Will courts compel or recommend mediation or other forms of alternative dispute resolution before proceeding with a trial? What role do courts have in ADR procedures?

Courts do not compel ADR. A conciliation hearing is a mandatory element of the court proceedings, but usually it is a mere technicality. It is to be expected that courts will increasingly recommend ADR and they may stay the court proceedings for the duration of ADR.

Advocacy

59 Describe any notable attempts by policy-makers to increase knowledge of private competition law and to facilitate the pursuit of private antitrust claims?

Prior to the 9th Amendment of the GWB, the FCO left such efforts mostly to the EU Commission. Unlike the EU Commission, the FCO was especially not obliged to refer to the possibility of private antitrust claims in its press releases. However, pursuant to Section 53(5) GWB, the FCO is now obliged to inform about the goods or services affected by a cartel and to refer to the possibility of private antitrust claims in its public online notifications on cases where it has imposed fines.

Other

60 Give details of any notable features of your country’s private antitrust enforcement regime not covered above.

Germany has been an attractive forum for cartel damages claimants for many years. However, it has often been criticised that claimants only had very limited possibilities to obtain information helping them to substantiate their claim. Unlike in common law jurisdictions, claimants were generally not entitled to request the opposing party to disclose information. Owing to the implementation of the EU Cartel Damages Directive by the 9th Amendment of the GWB, German law now provides for a far more extensive disclosure regime. Certain aspects, that had been disputed, have now been clarified by the 10th Amendment of the GWB. Even though this German disclosure regime stays behind the scope of disclosure rights in common law jurisdictions, many experts expect that these developments will attract more claimants to Germany.

Notes