The United Kingdom's New Block Exemption on Vertical Agreements.

The article provides an overview of the United Kingdom's new block exemption on vertical agreements, with a specific focus on its implications for franchising. The UK's Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order (VABEO) came into effect on June 1, 2022, after Brexit. The VABEO outlines provisions that should not be included in vertical agreements, including franchise agreements, in order for them to be exempt from competition law regulation. The article highlights the key differences between the UK's VABEO and the EU's Block Exemption Regulation on Vertical Agreements (VBER) and explores various competition law issues that arise in the context of franchising. It emphasizes the importance for franchisors operating in both the UK and EU markets to understand these differences in order to comply with competition regulations. [Extracted from the article]