Record fine for engineering companies

2007-04-30
Chaiman of the Czech office for the Protection of Competion (UOHS) Martin Pecina has reduced in his second instance decision the record fine imposed on 16 international engineering companies. The verdict has taken effect and the companies can turn to the Regional Court in Brno.

Companies were fined for long-term international cartel agreement. The overall fine of Kc941.88m remains the highest in the UOHS history despite a decline from Kc979m. The UOHS lowered the fine in the case of Areva to prove turnover that is decisive for the size of the fine (Areva will pay Kc10m instead of Kc28m). Siemens AG succeeded as well (Kc107.25m instead of the original fine of Kc126.6m). The Office shortened the period of its participation in the cartel by one year.

The UOHS concluded that the companies coordinated their price bids in tenders for gas insulated switchgear projects in order for all of them to win some of the contracts. The agreement was applied almost all over the world since 1988. Swiss company ABB which was also involved in the cartel has not been fined because it informed about the cartel according to leniency programme.

Fines

ALSTOM (Société Anonyme)

85.581.000,- CZK

AREVA T&D SA

69.552.000,- CZK

AREVA T&D AG

58.926.000,- CZK

AREVA T&D Holding SA

10.000.000,- CZK

Fuji Electric Holdings Co., Ltd.

44.408.000,- CZK

Fuji Electric Systems Co., Ltd.

44.408.000,- CZK

Hitachi Ltd.

54.600.000,- CZK

Hitachi Europe Limited

54.600.000,- CZK

Japan AE Power Systems Corporation

44.408.000,- CZK

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

75.348.000,- CZK

Toshiba Corporation

70.762.000,- CZK

Siemens AG

107.248.000,- CZK

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Österreich

88.816.000,- CZK

VA Tech Transmission & Distribution GmbH & Co KEG

44.408.000,- CZK

Siemens Transmission and Distribution Limited

44.408.000,- CZK

Nuova Magrini Galileo S.p.A.

44.408.000,- CZK

total

941.881.000,- CZK

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