OREANDA-NEWS. September 28, 2009. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) fined "Bassol" OJSC more than 7.5 million Rubles for entering into a competition-restricting agreement, which is forbidden under the antimonopoly laws, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier FAS Russia found that "Bassol" OJSC violated Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (concerted actions).

In 2008 "Bassol" OJSC violated the law by entering into a contract with "Promsol" Ltd. on transferring exclusive rights for selling all produced goods (salt) in the Russian Federation and other countries for the whole contract period and increasing the prices for the products of "Bassol" OJSC by 55%.

FAS Russia established that "Bassol" OJSC sent letters all customers that they should register contracts for supplies of salt products on the director of another company, and, as a consequences, evaded concluding a direct contract with и "Bassol" OJSC.

Actions of "Bassol" OJSC restricted competition in the salt market of the Russian Federation.

Following an administrative investigation, under Article 14.32 of the Code on Administrative Violations (CoAV RF) "Bassol" OJSC is fined 7,567,368 Rubles. The fine must be paid no later than 30 days after the decree on imposing the fine comes into force.