[ad_1]
The Competition Council decided to apply to the bailiffs for a fine of € 8,513,500 imposed on the Panevėžys Construction Trust (PST) for a restrictive agreement on public procurement and for the forced recovery of interest for the state budget.
According to the notice of the Competition Council, given that PST had not paid the fine within three months after the publication of the decision on the website of the Competition Council and appealed the decision in court, the company was They charged him interest under the Competition Law on the unpaid fine. To the head of Lithuania
After the Administrative Court (SACL) approves the decision of the Competition Council and makes the final and final decision, the company will have to pay a fine and a 6% fine. annual interest for each day of delay. Interest already above 1.1 million. Eur will be calculated no later than 180 days after the court decision or until PST pays the fine.
SACL panel of judges on June 3. confirmed the Competition Council’s conclusion that PST and Active Construction Management (formerly Irdaiva) violated the Competition Law when in 2013-2015. In acquisitions organized by Vilnius Development Company
it participated on the basis of joint venture agreements, although such capacity pooling was not necessary, and by its actions restricted competition. PST and Irdaiva, given their experience, qualifications and capabilities, had a real opportunity to participate in public procurement separately, compete with each other and submit unrelated offers, thus increasing competitive pressure both on other market participants and, on the one hand .
following. However, upon concluding the joint venture agreements, the companies agreed not to compete with each other and submit joint offers in 24 tenders.
The court confirmed in 2018. May 14 The decision of the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court declares that the fines were reasonably imposed on one of the largest Lithuanian construction companies of the time that participated in the prohibited agreement: PST – 8,513,500 euros, Irdaivai – 3,685,900 euros.
Dalius Gesevičius, CEO of PST, says this is a “big loss” for the company, but the company will continue its activities and is not yet considering any changes.
According to the director, it is planned to negotiate the payment of the fine in installments.
D. Gesevičius says that he is obliged to enforce the court decision, although he disagrees with it.
“It just came to our attention then. The terms of the tender required such an association. The agreements and groupings of the twelve companies were not even examined in court. For some reason, the court highlighted us. Apparently, we are different,” commented the CEO.
PST has around 700 employees and is one of the largest construction companies in Lithuania.
[ad_2]
