FAS: COURTS UPHELD FINES OF THE AUTHORITY IN RELATION TO THE COMPANIES OF SALAVATSTEKLO GROUP IN THE AMOUNT OF 332 MILLION RUBLES

Previously, the organizations were found violated the antimonopoly legislation

The Ninth Arbitration Court of Appeal recognized lawful the fine of the FAS for the Saratovstroysteklo company. Earlier, the courts of two instances also supported the Authority's fine in relation to Salavatsteklo JSC. Both companies are the part of the Salavatsteklo group of companies.

It should be reminded that in 2022, the FAS Russia recognized organizations as violated the Law on Protection of Competition. The group, which occupies a dominant position together with a number of other manufacturers, set a monopolistically high price for sheet glass in 2021-2022.

The Authority's analysis showed that the price of sheet glass increased by more than 80 % with a slight change in cost. However, no other economic growth factor was identified by the Service in the course of handling antimonopoly cases.

The Group of companies was issued a remedy aimed at ensuring competition. And as a part of the administrative proceedings, fines were imposed, subsequently supported by the courts of two instances: 190 269 673, 72 rubles for Salavatsteklo JSC and 141 752 955, 38 rubles for Saratovstroysteklo JSC.

It should be noted that even before the adoption of court decisions on the acts of the Authority, in accordance with the remedy, the companies developed draft trade and sales policies aimed at increasing transparency of pricing and interaction with counterparties.