OREANDA-NEWS. October 11, 2012. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that “Sollers” OJSC, “UAZ” OJSC and “UAZ Distribution Centre” OJSC (the SOLLERS group of companies) violated Part 5 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”. The companies coordinated economic activities of market agents, the consequence of which was maintaining prices at tenders (in breach of Clause 2 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

The grounds for FAS decision: the evidence obtained in course of unscheduled inspections carried out jointly by FAS Russia and the law enforcement bodies. FAS also discovered electronic letters with instructions regarding the procedures for participating in tenders that the SOLLERS group of companies sent to its dealers.

As a result of sending letters and other accompanying actions of the SOLLERS group of companies towards coordinating dealer behavior at tenders for supplying UAZ vehicles:

The number of companies that were not SOLLERS dealers but wished to take part in the tenders was reduced to a minimum because SOLLERS refused such companies and their dealers to supply the equipment that was the subject of the tenders;

Dealers of the SOLLERS group of companies won the majority of the tenders for supplying UAZ vehicles at the maximum (or close to the maximum) prices;

The SOLLERS group of companies and its dealers did not supply equipment or hamper to the maximum extent supplies of equipment to other winners of tenders.

“As a result of the actions of the SOLLERS group of companies for coordinating their dealers, competition at the tenders was eliminated or restricted, which led to maintaining tender prices”, stated the Head of FAS Cartel Department Alexander Kinyov.

In course of the investigation, the respondents admitted the facts of violating the antimonopoly law by coordinating dialers at the tenders.

“Sollers” OJSC, “UAZ” OJSC and “UAZ Distribution Centre” OJSC will be held administratively liable for violating the antimonopoly law: FAS will impose turnover fines.