Compliance Radar
Who was sanctioned, and for what?
Fines, court rulings and incidents from Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa: 2,207 cases from 44 jurisdictions, each with an official source and checked against that source before publication. Filter by country, area of law and sector. Click a chart to drill down one level.
Click a bar to drill down one level.
Where?
by regionAll jurisdictions
- EU €5.27bn 74 % · 139 cases
- South Korea €649.7m 9 % · 6 cases
- Norway €421.7m 6 % · 1 case
- United Kingdom €408.5m 6 % · 10 cases
- USA €206.3m 3 % · 2 cases
- Brazil €58.4m 1 % · 12 cases
- Switzerland €36.1m 1 % · 5 cases
- Canada €36m 1 % · 2 cases
- Singapore €15.9m 0 % · 4 cases
- South Africa €8.51m 0 % · 13 cases
- 2 more€4.06m
What for?
by action- Fine €6.99bn 98 % · 189 cases
- Other €128.2m 2 % · 7 cases
- Order – 0 % · 1 case
Who?
by sectorAll sectors
- Retail and e-commerce €1.91bn 27 % · 33 cases
- Energy and utilities €1.18bn 17 % · 11 cases
- Food and agriculture €892.5m 13 % · 24 cases
- Automotive €768.1m 11 % · 11 cases
- Manufacturing and mechanical engineering €688m 10 % · 18 cases
- Construction and real estate €437.5m 6 % · 32 cases
- Chemicals and pharmaceuticals €401.2m 6 % · 11 cases
- Financial services and insurance €384.7m 5 % · 11 cases
- Telecoms, IT and software €142.8m 2 % · 11 cases
- Steel and metals €121m 2 % · 3 cases
- 5 more€196.2m
When?
per year, by date of decision| Period | Cases | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19 | €226.1m |
| 2023 | 44 | €930.1m |
| 2024 | 41 | €2.2bn |
| 2025 | 50 | €2.88bn |
| 2026 | 44 | €882.5m |
198 cases
24 Sep 2026 Plaček Pet Products s.r.o.Plaček Pet Products: 36.4 million CZK for minimum prices on pet food €1.49m
From January 2013 to March 2022, the distributor of premium pet food and pet supplies imposed minimum resale prices on its retailers and threatened sanctions if they were undercut. In a settlement procedure, the Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (Czech Office for the Protection of Competition, ÚOHS) imposed 36.438 million CZK; the company ended the conduct after the inspection and introduced a compliance programme.
Never enforce recommended retail prices with supply stops or sanctions – sales teams need clear rules on this.
Price requirements imposed on retailers in sales
Missing or inadequate training played a role in the decision.
- Authority / court
- Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (ÚOHS)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Verbot vertikaler Preisbindung (tschechisches Wettbewerbsgesetz, Art. 101 AEUV)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Culpability
- intentional
- Mitigating circumstances
- Termination immediately after the inspection, information of customers about free pricing, full cooperation, settlement and newly introduced compliance programme.
- Published
- 24 Sep 2026
Original amount 36,438,000 CZK, converted at the ECB reference rate of 24 Sep 2026.
- Distributor krmiv pro domácí zvířata dostal pokutu 36 milionů korun za diktování cen maloobchodníkům Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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24 Sep 2026 M&J GroupCMA: fine against construction firm for concealing evidence during an inspection €29,075
During an inspection as part of an investigation into bid rigging, a work mobile phone and documents were removed from the premises on the instructions of a manager, and possession of a work mobile phone was denied. The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) imposed a fine of 25,000 GBP on M&J.
Dawn raid training is mandatory: removing mobile phones or documents during an inspection obstructs the investigation, even when acting on instructions.
Correct conduct during inspections (dawn raids), no removal of evidence
- Authority / court
- Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Section 40A(1) Competition Act 1998
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Construction and real estate
- Culpability
- intentional
- Liability of senior managers
- Measures against individuals are not reported here.
- Published
- 24 Sep 2026
Original amount 25,000 GBP, converted at the ECB reference rate of 24 Sep 2026.
- CMA, Pressemitteilung zu M&J Group (Entscheidung 2025) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 3 · Direct link
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22 Sep 2026 Carioca Christiani-Nielsen Engenharia S.A.Carioca Engenharia pays 6.13 million BRL in CADE settlement on construction tenders €1.04m
Carioca Christiani-Nielsen Engenharia S.A. concluded a single settlement (Termo de Compromisso de Cessação) with the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE, Brazilian competition authority) covering four proceedings concerning alleged collusion in public tenders for infrastructure projects (metro, airports operated by Infraero, the rail company CPTM and the transport authority DNIT). The company admitted its participation, allegedly pays 6,134,676.92 BRL in instalments to the Fund for Diffuse Rights (FDD) and waives court and administrative disputes on these matters. Together with the company’s earlier settlements with CADE, its contributions exceed 90 million BRL.
A settlement covering all pending cartel cases creates legal certainty but requires an admission, payment and full cooperation.
Bid rigging in public construction contracts
- Authority / court
- Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Lei nº 12.529/2011 (Lei de Defesa da Concorrência), Termo de Compromisso de Cessação
- Action
- Other
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Construction and real estate
- Published
- 22 Sep 2026
Original amount 6,134,676.92 BRL, converted at the ECB reference rate of 22 Sep 2026.
- CADE – Cade celebra acordo com construtora em quatro investigações de cartel (22.09.2026) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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17 Sep 2026 Lesy České republiky, s.p. (Lesy ČR)Lesy ČR: 17.3 million CZK for export ban on wood chips €710,383
From July 2021 to July 2024, the state forestry company contractually prohibited a customer from actively and passively exporting wood chips and logging residues and secured the ban with a right of termination. The Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (Czech Office for the Protection of Competition, ÚOHS) considered this a restriction of competition by object under Czech and EU law and imposed 17.268 million CZK (first instance, not final).
State-owned companies are also subject to competition law – have export and resale bans in framework agreements legally reviewed before signing.
Anticompetitive clauses in supply contracts
- Authority / court
- Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (ÚOHS)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Tschechisches Wettbewerbsgesetz, Art. 101 AEUV (Exportverbot)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Food and agriculture
- Mitigating circumstances
- Voluntary termination immediately after proceedings were opened.
- Published
- 17 Sep 2026
Original amount 17,268,000 CZK, converted at the ECB reference rate of 17 Sep 2026.
- Lesy ČR banned wood-chip exports and were imposed a fine of more than CZK 17 million Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link
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9 Sep 2026 Moorim P&P, Moorim Paper, Hansol Paper u. a. (6 Unternehmen)Bid-rigging for printing paper for Nongmin News: six paper firms sanctioned €1.93m
According to the KFTC (Korea Fair Trade Commission, Korea's competition authority), six manufacturers and distributors of printing paper fixed in advance the winning bidder, cover bidders and bid prices in six tenders issued by the publisher Nongmin News Corp. between June 2021 and November 2024; the average winning bid rate was around 96.2%, compared with 87.6% in 2018 to 2020. The KFTC issued corrective orders, imposed fines totalling KRW 3,009 million (Moorim SP KRW 59 million, Moorim Paper KRW 573 million, Moorim P&P KRW 948 million, Hansol Paper KRW 556 million, Hankuk Paper KRW 515 million, Hongwon Paper KRW 358 million).
Competition compliance reviews should always cover tender business as well as general pricing, because collusion there often runs in parallel.
Bid-rigging in tenders
- Authority / court
- Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Art. 40 Abs. 1 Nr. 8 MRFTA (Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Manufacturing and mechanical engineering
- Published
- 9 Sep 2026
Original amount 3,009,000,000 KRW, converted at the ECB reference rate of 9 Sep 2026.
- KFTC press release (EN), 10 Sep 2026: KFTC Sanctions Bid-Rigging in Nongmin News Corp. Printing Paper Tenders Press release of an authority
- KFTC-Pressemitteilung (KO), 09.09.2026: 농민신문사 발주 인쇄용지 입찰담합 제재 Press release of an authority
- KFTC-Pressemitteilung (KO, PDF) mit Bußgeldtabelle je Unternehmen und Rechtsgrundlage Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 4 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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26 Aug 2026 O2 Czech Republic a.s.; SHERLOG Technology, a.s.O2 Czech Republic and SHERLOG: 280 million CZK for customer allocation in vehicle tracking €11.7m
From December 2012 to June 2022, the two companies allocated customers for vehicle tracking and electronic logbook services between themselves and coordinated bids, including in public tenders. At first instance, the Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (Czech Office for the Protection of Competition, ÚOHS) fined O2 262.32 million CZK and SHERLOG 18.357 million CZK and imposed a six-month ban on public contracts; for O2, the fine was increased instead of a procurement ban.
Do not let sales cooperation with competitors turn into customer allocation – e-mail arrangements about individual tenders are the typical evidence.
Coordination with cooperation partners on customers and tenders
- Authority / court
- Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (ÚOHS)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Tschechisches Wettbewerbsgesetz, Art. 101 AEUV
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Telecoms, IT and software
- Culpability
- intentional
- Published
- 26 Aug 2026
Original amount 280,677,000 CZK, converted at the ECB reference rate of 26 Aug 2026.
- Fines exceeding CZK 280 million imposed on O2 Czech Republic and SHERLOG Technology for cartel agreement Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link
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19 Aug 2026 Sioux Erosion Control Inc.DOJ: jury convicts erosion control firm of price fixing in Oklahoma road construction –
A jury found Sioux Erosion Control guilty of having fixed prices for erosion control services, allocated contracts regionally and rigged bids on publicly funded road construction projects in Oklahoma (more than 100 million USD) from 2017 to 2023. Sentencing was still pending; the decision is not final.
Subcontractors in public road construction are also targeted by prosecutors.
Price-fixing and territorial agreements for subcontracted services in road construction
- Authority / court
- U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Section 1 Sherman Act
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Construction and real estate
- Liability of senior managers
- Measures against individuals are not reported here.
- Published
- 20 Aug 2026
- U.S. Department of Justice, Pressemitteilung zu Sioux Erosion Control (Entscheidung 2026) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 4 · Direct link
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17 Aug 2026 Pluxee Česká republika a.s.; Edenred CZ s.r.o.; Up Česká republika s.r.o.Meal voucher cartel: 279 million CZK against Pluxee, Edenred and Up upheld with final effect €11.5m
From 2004 to 2018, the three issuers of paper meal vouchers coordinated with retail chains how many vouchers would be accepted per purchase. The President of the Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (Czech Office for the Protection of Competition, ÚOHS) dismissed the appeals against the recalculation of the fines: Pluxee 132.271 million, Edenred 101.94 million and Up 44.941 million CZK, a total of 279.152 million CZK.
Coordinating seemingly technical conditions such as acceptance limits is also a cartel – industry discussions need clear boundaries.
Coordination of terms and conditions among competitors
- Authority / court
- Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže (ÚOHS)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Tschechisches Wettbewerbsgesetz, Art. 101 AEUV
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Financial services and insurance
- Culpability
- intentional
- Published
- 17 Aug 2026
Original amount 279,152,000 CZK, converted at the ECB reference rate of 17 Aug 2026.
- Chairman of the Czech Competition Authority Definitively Confirms Fines for Meal Voucher Issuers’ Cartel Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link
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13 Aug 2026 „О-Рент“ ЕООД (sowie „Инжконсулт“ ЕООД und „Земекоп“ ЕООД)Construction machinery cartel: fine for O-Rent, compliance programme for all participants €2,403
The Комисия за защита на конкуренцията (Bulgarian Commission for the Protection of Competition, KZK) found a cartel in public tenders for mining and construction machinery (price fixing and market sharing, Art. 15 ZZK – Bulgarian Protection of Competition Act, Art. 101 TFEU). Inzhkonsult and Zemekop, as a single undertaking, were exempted from the fine; O-Rent received a sanction of 2,403.07 EUR. All three companies must introduce a competition law compliance programme within 60 days and report on it.
The authority now expressly requires compliance programmes – anyone bidding in tenders should have one before it is ordered.
Competition law in tenders; compliance programme
- Authority / court
- Комисия за защита на конкуренцията (КЗК, Bulgarische Wettbewerbskommission)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Art. 15 Abs. 1 Nr. 1 und 2 ZZK; Art. 101 Abs. 1 lit. a und c AEUV
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Construction and real estate
- Mitigating circumstances
- Immunity from fines for two participants (leniency programme)
- Published
- 20 Aug 2026
- КЗК Публичен електронен регистър – Производство (Решение № 797 от 13.08.2026; Volltext als PDF im Register) Official register or notice
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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7 Aug 2026 Hair-Line Kft.Hair-Line: 68.5 million HUF for price and territorial restrictions on hairdressing supplies €187,929
In 2018–2022, the distributor of professional hairdressing products (Alfaparf, Yellow) determined the prices at which its territorial representatives were allowed to sell to salons and retailers and restricted passive sales outside the territories. Under a settlement and with a commitment to a compliance programme, the Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (Hungarian Competition Authority, GVH) imposed 68.5 million HUF.
Commercial agent systems with territorial protection must not restrict resale prices or passive sales either.
Price and territorial restrictions in the distribution system
Missing or inadequate training played a role in the decision.
- Authority / court
- Gazdasági Versenyhivatal (GVH)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Ungarisches Wettbewerbsgesetz, Verbot wettbewerbsbeschränkender Vereinbarungen
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Culpability
- intentional
- Mitigating circumstances
- Cooperation, acknowledgement in the settlement and commitment to a comprehensive compliance programme.
- Published
- 7 Aug 2026
Original amount 68,500,000 HUF, converted at the ECB reference rate of 7 Aug 2026.
- Korlátozta a versenyt az egyik ismert hazai fodrászcikk forgalmazó, komoly GVH-bírság lett a vége Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link
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6 Aug 2026 AS Asphaltstraßensanierung GmbH, BITUNOVA GmbH, Kutter Spezialstraßenbau GmbH & Co. KG, Possehl Construction GmbH (inkl. VSI), Liesen…alles für den Bau GmbH, OAT GmbH/Otto Alte-Teigeler GmbHBundeskartellamt: 60.3 million EUR against DSK road repair cartel €60.3m
From around 2010 to September 2019, six suppliers of thin cold-laid asphalt surface layers (Dünne Asphaltdeckschichten in Kaltbauweise, DSK) allocated customers – primarily public contracting authorities – and contracts among themselves nationwide and coordinated prices. Germany's Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) imposed fines of around 60.3 million EUR; all proceedings ended in settlements.
Anyone who "shares out" public contracts regionally risks fines running into millions – calculations and bids must always be prepared independently.
Customer allocation and bid rigging in public contracts
- Authority / court
- Bundeskartellamt
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- § 1 GWB, Art. 101 AEUV
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Construction and real estate
- Mitigating circumstances
- Leniency bonus for Possehl/VSI, Bitunova, Kutter and AS; settlement
- Published
- 6 Aug 2026
- Bußgelder wegen Kartellabsprachen im Bereich Straßenreparatur mit DSK Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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21 Jul 2026 Maxxis International GmbH, Best4Tires Berlin GmbH, Reifen Müller GmbH & Co. KGBundeskartellamt: fines over resale price maintenance in tyre distribution (Maxxis/CST) Fine
Maxxis guaranteed wholesalers fixed margins per tyre sold of the Maxxis and CST brands, monitored prices in particular on the Tyre24 platform and intervened when prices were too low. Germany's Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) imposed fines on Maxxis and two tyre wholesalers that had pushed for the margin guarantees; at the time of publication the decisions were not final (an objection to the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf was possible).
Margin guarantees and price controls vis-à-vis dealers constitute prohibited resale price maintenance – sales teams need clear rules for price discussions.
Influencing resale prices and price monitoring on platforms
- Authority / court
- Bundeskartellamt
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- § 1 GWB (vertikale Preisbindung)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Mitigating circumstances
- Settlement with Maxxis and Reifen Müller
- Published
- 21 Jul 2026
Checked against the official source on 28 Sep 2026 · Version 2 · Direct link
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15 Jul 2026 CalPlus GmbH, Elektronik-Kontor Messtechnik GmbH, TVW Meßtechnik GmbHBundeskartellamt: 453,000 EUR against distributors of test and measuring equipment €453,000
From 2016 to 2022, three distributors of test and measuring equipment coordinated discounts as essential price components and informed each other of customer contacts, usually with a request for "restraint". This was evidenced by more than 400 emails; the proceedings ended in settlements.
Small distributors are liable too: merely asking a competitor to "hold back" with a customer is a prohibited customer allocation agreement.
Email contacts with competitors about customers and discounts
- Authority / court
- Bundeskartellamt
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- § 1 GWB
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Manufacturing and mechanical engineering
- Mitigating circumstances
- Settlement; cooperation by Elektronik-Kontor Messtechnik taken into account
- Published
- 15 Jul 2026
- Bundeskartellamt verhängt Bußgelder wegen Preisabsprachen beim Vertrieb von Prüf- und Messgeräten Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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1 Jul 2026 Datasonic Indústria e Distribuição de Eletrônicos Ltda., D.T.I. Comércio de Artigos de Informática Ltda., Pares Eletrônica Comercial e Industrial Eireli u. a. (10 Unternehmen)CADE: cartel fines on ten electronics suppliers, two later reduced €699,960
In cartel proceedings, the CADE Tribunal fined ten suppliers of electronic products, while the signatories of a 2014 leniency agreement (Agilent and Keysight) and one company that had fulfilled a settlement were not sanctioned. The fines on the companies initially totalled 8,362,138.05 BRL; in the virtual deliberation procedure the plenary, deciding on motions for clarification (embargos) on 17 August 2026, reduced of its own motion the fines on Datasonic (from 4,329,605.69 to 856,937.12 BRL) and D.T.I. (from 1,021,750.18 to 265,406.99 BRL), leaving 4,133,126.29 BRL. The session minutes do not identify the market concerned. The amount and the facts have not been confirmed against the primary source.
The first party to cooperate with the competition authority can escape sanctions, while the other participants pay.
Cartel risks in distribution and the benefits of leniency
- Authority / court
- Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE), Tribunal Administrativo
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Lei nº 12.529/2011
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- reduced
- Sector
- Manufacturing and mechanical engineering
- Liability of senior managers
- Measures against individuals are not set out here.
- Published
- 8 Jul 2026
Original amount 4,133,126.29 BRL, converted at the ECB reference rate of 1 Jul 2026.
- Diário Oficial da União, 08.07.2026, Seção 1, S. 132: Ata da 268ª Sessão Ordinária de Julgamento (01.07.2026), PA nº 08700.010050/2014-23 Official register or notice
- Diário Oficial da União, 24.08.2026, Seção 1, S. 55: Ata nº 30 (Circuito Deliberativo Virtual), Embargos im PA 08700.010050/2014-23, Abstimmungsende 17.08.2026 Official register or notice
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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10 Jun 2026 Denso CorporationCADE: 100.79 million BRL against Denso over international wire harness cartel €16.8m
The Tribunal of the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE, Brazilian competition authority) unanimously fined Denso Corporation 100,787,523.05 BRL for taking part in an international cartel in wire harnesses and electrical and electronic automotive components with effects in Brazil. According to the rapporteur’s vote, Denso took part in price fixing, the allocation of projects, geographic market sharing and the exchange of sensitive information roughly between 2000 and 2008. For other participants the proceedings ended through leniency, settlements or for lack of evidence; CADE dismissed Denso’s motion for clarification (embargos) in August 2026. The amount and the facts have not been confirmed against the primary source.
International cartels are prosecuted in Brazil even long after they ended if they affected prices there.
International cartels in the automotive supply chain
- Authority / court
- Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE), Tribunal Administrativo
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Lei nº 12.529/2011 (Lei de Defesa da Concorrência)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Automotive
- Employees
- 10,000 or more
- Published
- 10 Jun 2026
Original amount 100,787,523.05 BRL, converted at the ECB reference rate of 10 Jun 2026.
- Diário Oficial da União, 17.06.2026 – Ata da 267ª Sessão Ordinária de Julgamento do CADE (10.06.2026), Processo Administrativo nº 08700.009029/2015-66 Official register or notice
- CADE – Cade aplica mais de R$ 100 milhões em multa por cartel internacional no mercado de chicotes elétricos (10.06.2026) Press release of an authority
- Diário Oficial da União, 18.08.2026 – CADE Ata nº 29 (Circuito Deliberativo Virtual): Embargos de Declaração Denso zurückgewiesen Official register or notice
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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5 Jun 2026 Portugal: 8.18 million EUR against three companies over advertising in TV recordings €8.18m
With the support of a consultancy, the three largest pay-TV providers agreed from 2019 to May 2025 to introduce advertising as a condition for accessing recordings and to standardise the marketing of this advertising space. The Autoridade da Concorrência (Portuguese Competition Authority, AdC) imposed 8,181,000 EUR on three companies; together with the fourth participant, already sanctioned earlier under a settlement, the fines add up to 13,351,000 EUR. Owing to ongoing court proceedings, the AdC did not publish the names in its announcement.
Jointly coordinated ‘industry solutions’ at customers’ expense are cartels – even when a service provider takes on the coordination.
Coordinated product changes among competitors
- Authority / court
- Autoridade da Concorrência (AdC)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Lei da Concorrência (Lei n.º 19/2012), Art. 9.º (Processo PRC/2020/4)
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Telecoms, IT and software
- Published
- 5 Jun 2026
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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3 Jun 2026 VF Hellas Ενδυμάτων Ε.Π.Ε. (VF Hellas, Tochter der VF Corporation)Greece: 954,485 EUR against VF Hellas for banning price comparison and Google Ads €954,485
The importer and wholesaler of the Vans, Eastpak and The North Face brands contractually prohibited its retailers from using price comparison portals and search engine advertising (in particular Google Ads). The Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission) regarded this as a hardcore restriction in online sales and, in a settlement procedure (Decision 913/2026), set a reduced fine of 954,485 EUR; date = press release.
Prohibiting retailers from using price comparison sites or search engine advertising is a hardcore restriction – distribution agreements should regularly undergo competition law review.
Competition-law-compliant design of dealer agreements in online sales
- Authority / court
- Επιτροπή Ανταγωνισμού (Hellenic Competition Commission)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Art. 1 Gesetz 3959/2011; Art. 101 AEUV; Art. 4 lit. e VO (EU) 2022/720
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Retail and e-commerce
- Mitigating circumstances
- Settlement procedure (Diettheti Diaforon) with fine reduction
- Published
- 3 Jun 2026
Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link
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28 May 2026 Timmerhuis Weg & Waterbouw B.V., Bouwhuis Aannemingsmaatschappij „Bouwmij“ B.V., Aannemingsmaatschappij Van Gelder B.V.ACM: cartel fines on construction firms for bid rigging in an Ommen tender €45,500
In September 2024 three construction companies coordinated their bid prices and decided the winner in a civil engineering tender of the municipality of Ommen, which was awarded for 153,250 EUR. Because of earlier cartel infringements by the companies or their legal predecessors established in 2005, the ACM (Autoriteit Consument & Markt, Dutch competition and consumer authority) increased the fines by 20%. In the simplified procedure it imposed allegedly 30,000 EUR on Timmerhuis and allegedly 15,500 EUR on Bouwhuis (45,500 EUR in total); Van Gelder, as first leniency applicant, was not fined.
Bids in procurement procedures must be prepared independently; even agreeing the winner of a small municipal contract is sanctioned.
Bid rigging in public tenders
- Authority / court
- Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Art. 6 Abs. 1 Mededingingswet
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Construction and real estate
- Repeat case
- yes
- Mitigating circumstances
- For cooperating in the simplified procedure, the ACM reduced the fines of Bouwhuis and Timmerhuis by 15%, and that of Timmerhuis by a further 5% for evidence provided voluntarily; Van Gelder, as first applicant, received full leniency immunity.
- Published
- 2 Jun 2026
- ACM – Boetebesluit vervalsing GWW-aanbesteding (Beslisdatum 28-05-2026) Decision of an authority
- ACM – Boetebesluit vervalsing GWW-aanbesteding gemeente Ommen Decision of an authority
- ACM – ACM legt kartelboetes op voor vervalsing GWW-aanbesteding (02-06-2026) Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 4 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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27 May 2026 Frigorífico Cason Ltda., ASM Comércio de Subprodutos de Origem Animal Ltda., ASM Comércio e Coleta de Ossos Ltda.CADE: buyer cartel for animal by-products in Rio Grande do Sul – BRL 6.4m €1.09m
The CADE Tribunal convicted three companies of a buyer cartel in the purchase of animal residues in Rio Grande do Sul: according to CADE, rendering plants and haulage companies divided collection points among themselves, exchanged sensitive information and obstructed competitors outside the arrangement. Frigorífico Cason received 5,937,915.73 BRL and the two ASM companies jointly 455,419.65 BRL (6,393,335.38 BRL in total); proceedings against several other parties were closed because settlements had been fulfilled or for lack of evidence. The amount and the facts have not been confirmed against the primary source.
Buyers, too, must not coordinate the allocation of suppliers or collection areas; buyer cartels are prohibited just like seller cartels.
Buyer cartels and allocation of supply or collection areas
- Authority / court
- Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE), Tribunal Administrativo
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Lei nº 12.529/2011
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- unknown
- Sector
- Food and agriculture
- Liability of senior managers
- Measures against individuals are not set out here.
- Published
- 29 May 2026
Original amount 6,393,335.38 BRL, converted at the ECB reference rate of 27 May 2026.
- Diário Oficial da União, 03.06.2026, Seção 1, S. 93: Ata da 266ª Sessão Ordinária de Julgamento (27.05.2026), PA nº 08700.004404/2016-62 Official register or notice
- CADE, 29.05.2026: Cade condena empresas e empresários por cartel no mercado de resíduos animais no Rio Grande do Sul Press release of an authority
Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link
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27 May 2026 Seed Bearing Fields (Pty) LtdFood supply tender: Seed Bearing Fields admits price fixing €528
On 27 May 2026 the Competition Tribunal (South Africa's competition adjudicator) confirmed a settlement in which Limpopo-based Seed Bearing Fields (Pty) Ltd admitted fixing prices with Mogodumo Bakone Holding (Pty) Ltd for a Limpopo Department of Health tender to supply perishable food. The directors of the two bidders are related; the companies shared an office and service providers and submitted strikingly similar bids. Seed Bearing Fields allegedly pays an administrative penalty of 10,044 ZAR and must attend competition law compliance training provided by the Competition Commission (competition authority).
Related companies bidding separately must not coordinate their prices – shared offices, service providers and similar documents make collusion easy to spot.
Related bidders in public tenders
Missing or inadequate training played a role in the decision.
- Authority / court
- Competition Tribunal of South Africa (auf Antrag der Competition Commission)
- Area of law
- Competition law · Cartels and collusion
- Legal basis
- Section 4(1)(b)(i) und (iii) Competition Act 89 of 1998
- Action
- Fine
- Status of proceedings
- final
- Sector
- Food and agriculture
Original amount 10,044 ZAR, converted at the ECB reference rate of 27 May 2026.
Checked against the official source on 4 Oct 2026 · Direct link