The principle of claims purchase and claims bundling is a key element in overcoming the practical obstacles to the enforcement of damage claims in the field of antitrust law. CDC performs the task of coordinator and promoter, enabling and facilitating the development of claim bundles and their enforcement.

Purchasing and bundling the damage claims of a multitude of claimants allows for a centralised and standardised collection and analysis of market data. In doing so, well-founded conclusions as to the total market and to the cartel damage incurred by the individual market participant can be drawn. In order to collect the relevant facts, CDC has developed a specific process called ‘tradebaCCC’ (means transaction data evaluation based Competition Compliance Check), which is aligned with the characteristics of claims for damages in antitrust law. The process provides a highly differentiating data base that allows for a substantiated analysis of market development and cartel related effects. At the same time it is applicable in almost every product market with few modifications and variants.

Furthermore, CDC has access to a global network of expert lawyers and economists which allows for early access to documents and findings that also have evidentiary value in Europe. Thus, CDC can effectively contribute to efficient and coordinated damage claims settlements for supranational cartel cases.   

As soon as adequate evidence for the actual effects of the cartel and the legal enforceability of damage claims have been assessed, CDC decides on possible claims enforcement, taking account of the pursued objectives and the appropriate legal jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the bundling of claims, CDC offers flexible models for the enforcement of damage claims and the involvement of the claimants, taking specifically into account the interests of each damaged company.

The permanent staff of CDC consists of lawyers, economists and IT experts. Litigation against third parties is invariably conferred to external law firms.