Sør-Trøndelag District Court issued on June 2 a ruling in a case in which two entrepreneurs were fined by the Norwegian Competition Authority for illegal collusion on tenders. The fines total NOK 7 million (about EUR 890 000).
The Competition Authority decided in July 2009 to impose fines on the two companies, Grunnarbeid AS and Gran & Ekran AS, of respectively five million and two million Norwegian kroner for having cooperated illegally in connection with a tender organized by the municipality of Steinkjer.
The Authority found that the municipality was given the impression that the companies submitted two independent and competing offers. In reality, Gran & Ekran submitted its offer in cooperation with Grunnarbeid and with no intention of winning the tender.
The two contractors disputed the correctness of the decisions and sued the Competition Authority.
In the ruling, the Norwegian Competition Authority’s decision was fully upheld.
– The Competition Authority has recently strengthened efforts against illegal collusion between competitors. The ruling is an important signal that such collusion entails a substantial risk for the players, said Director General for Competition Knut Eggum Johansen.
Last published:
03/06/2010
Last changed:
04/06/2010