UK Tribunal Lets Apple-Amazon Marketplace Price Claims Proceed; Retailer Claims Rejected

A UK Competition Appeal Tribunal on Monday allowed a consumer claim covering Apple (AAPL) products bought through Amazon's (AMZN) UK marketplace to proceed, while refusing to certify claims involving Apple products bought through other retailers. The suit alleges a 2018 Apple-Amazon agreement unlawfully restricted competition, raising prices for Apple products sold on Amazon and through other retail channels. The original claim, brought by Christine Riefa Class Representative Limited for about 28.9 million UK consumers, was refused certification over an authorisation failure, then reconstituted under consumer advocate Justin Le Patourel via JLP A&A Class Representative Limited. The Tribunal found the damages methodology for Amazon purchases credible and fact-based, meeting the Microsoft legal standard. It rejected other-retailer claims, citing an unclear economic theory and underdeveloped methodology. Apple shares closed at $341.07 on Friday, up 1.53%; Amazon rose 0.12% to $249.67.