FAS suspects six computer equipment companies to create a cartel

The Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia continues a series of inspections of technology companies for collusion. Following the initiation of cases against Microsoft and inspections by Lenovo and Samsung , six more came to the attention of the supervisory authority, this time domestic companies, namely Business Computer Groups LLC, AMI-NETWORK LLC, CROC Incorporated , Superwave Group LLC, Craftway Corporation PLC CJSC, Aquarius Production Company LLC.

The FAS believes that all of the above organizations consisted in cartel collusion on the supply of computer equipment for the GAS “Vybory” units . In fact, the audit was initiated, as reported on the official website of the FAS .

“This case is the first one initiated within the framework of the investigation of the cartel agreement at the auction for the supply of equipment for state needs, which has been operating in Russia for several years. In the near future, it is possible to initiate new antimonopoly cases in relation to other participants in a potential cartel, ”said Andrei Tsarikovsky, deputy head of the FAS Russia.

FAS found that an anti-competitive agreement had been concluded between the listed companies. It consisted in the fact that during the ongoing tender for the purchase of computing equipment for the GAS Vybory system, four of the six organizations did not even apply for participation (provided that two of them had preferences). The remaining two bidders in the face of Business Computers Group and Supervave Groups reduced the initial (and maximum possible) cost of their applications by only 1%, offering blocks from Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Lenovo, respectively.

“Analysis of the electronic correspondence received during unscheduled inspections of organizations, as well as other documents and information, allowed us to conclude that there are signs of an agreement aimed at maintaining the contract price. Separate attention of the antimonopoly department was caused by the refusal of domestic producers to compete, despite the fact that they could rely on preferences from the customer, ”said Andrei Tenishev, head of the anti-cartel department.

She commented on her refusal to participate in the tender for VedomostiCJSC Craftway organization: “Considering the previous experience of interaction with the CEC, when minor discrepancies in the equipment supplied led to the termination of the contract with a fine of about 40 million rubles, we decided not to risk and not to participate in the auction.” Other organizations declined to comment.