MOSCOW REGIONAL OFAS REVEALED CARTEL AT AUCTION IN THE AMOUNT OF MORE THAN 2.5 BILLION RUB

The conclusion of a cartel agreement led to the maintenance of prices at auction

Moscow Regional Office of FAS Russia has recognized Heritage LLC and Heritage-Renovation LLC as violating antimonopoly legislation*. The companies entered into a cartel in order to maintain prices at two auctions. They were held for the right to carry out work on the design, reconstruction and commissioning of capital construction projects in the Volgograd and Tver regions.

The total amount of the initial (maximum) prices of the two contracts was 2,554,510,857 rubles.

FAS Russia found that the organizations acted in the interests of each other during the bidding. In particular, they deliberately refused to compete and also carried out joint preparation for bidding using a single infrastructure. This led to a restriction of competition at the auction.

Organizations face turnover fines in accordance with the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation**. In addition, the materials of the antimonopoly case were sent to law enforcement authorities to resolve the issue of initiating a criminal case.

* Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Article 11 of the Federal Law No. 135-FZ of 26.07.2006 "‎On Protection of Competition"‎

** Part 2 of Article 14.32 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation