ACM investigates possible cartel among suppliers to public-sector organizations
Summary
- ACM is investigating a possible cartel among suppliers to organizations in the public sector.
- These suppliers are suspected of making secret arrangements among each other regarding the sharing of customers.
- In the next few months, ACM will investigate whether the competition rules have indeed been violated.
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is investigating a possible cartel among suppliers to organizations in the public sector. As part of that investigation, ACM recently conducted dawn raids at several companies. These suppliers are suspected of making secret arrangements among each other about the sharing of customers. If that turns out to be the case, it is a serious violation of the competition rules. Cartel agreements lead to higher prices, less innovation, and less choice for buyers. The buyers that have been potentially harmed are organizations in the public sector.
What are the next steps in the investigation?
ACM has conducted unannounced dawn raids, requested information, and, in the coming months, will investigate whether the competition rules have indeed been violated. In this process, ACM may also come to the conclusion that the law has not been violated. However, if ACM does come to the conclusion that the law has been violated, ACM can impose sanctions, for example, a fine. Fines can be as high as 10 percent of a company’s annual turnover.
In the interest of the investigation, ACM will not make any further announcements regarding the cartel investigation’s content at this stage. Also, at this stage of the investigation, ACM will not make any statements regarding company names and which part of the public sector is involved, in order to prevent unnecessary reputational damage.
Submit a tip-off
If you have any indications that a company is violating the competition rules, please report it to ACM. You can also submit your tip-off anonymously.
Report your cartel
Do you want to report to ACM that the business you’re working for is or was involved in a cartel? If you report your participation in a cartel, you may receive a fine reduction or you may even escape a fine altogether. This is called applying for leniency. To do so, you may contact ACM’s leniency office.