Fines were applied as follows:
Oyl Company Holding AG SRL – 5,914,952.99 lei
Autoprima Serv SRL – 2,017,912.68 lei
Saga Infrastructura SRL – 356,972.48 lei
Following an investigation, the competition authority found that the three companies had engaged in an anti-competitive agreement aimed at dividing the works for routine and periodic maintenance of national roads and highways in Romanian counties of Constanta, Tulcea, Braila, Calarasi, and Ialomita. Specifically, during the public procurement procedures organized by CNAIR through DRDP Constanta, as the contracting authority, the three firms coordinated their commercial strategies to ensure that the companies submitting the highest bids would win the contracts.
The three businesses received a reduced fine after acknowledging the conduct.
The watchdog said it had closed a similar probe into Asfalt Dobrogea SRL after failing to find enough evidence that the company had breached competition rules.
Romanian competition law prohibits any agreements between companies and concerted practices that prevent, restrict, or distort competition in the Romanian market, especially those that fix purchase or sale prices or any other trading conditions. The decisions of the Competition Council are enforceable and the fines collected represent revenues to the state budget. Romania’s tax administration ANAF implements the Council’s sanctioning decisions and collects the fines.
The decision of the Competition Authority will be published on the institution’s website after the removal of confidential information.