OREANDA-NEWS. October 26, 2009. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that "Angstrem" OJSC and "Smartronics projects PTE LTD" violated Part 2 Article 11 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (competition-restricting agreements and concerted actions). As both companies admitted the fact of antimonopoly violation and voluntarily eliminated it, the FAS Russia's Commission terminated the proceedings against the above entities, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

"Angstrem" OJSC and "Smartronics projects PTE LTD" violated the antimonopoly law by entering into an agreement (contract) containing anticompetitive provisions.

In particular, for the whole period of contract validity (till the end of 2009) "Angstrem" OJSC granted "Smartronics projects PTE LTD" an exclusive right for buying microcontrollers К5004VЕ1-017 in the Russian Federation, Europe and Asia. "Angstrem" OJSC undertook obligations not to sell К5004VЕ1-017 to other buyers directly or through an intermediary, and not to accept and execute any proposal of any other buyers of К5004ВЕ1-017 without prior written permission of "Smartronics projects PTE LTD".

In course of the investigation, "Angstrem" OJSC and "Smartronics projects PTE LTD" signed the additional agreement to the contract, which withdraws some contract provisions that became the subject of investigation.

"Angstrem" OJSC is the leading Russian radio-electronic company.

Microcontrollers К5004VЕ1-017, manufactured by "Angstrem" OJSC, are an integral element of the secure electronic control tape (EKLZ), mandatory for check-out and cash register equipment used in the Russian Federation.

Alexei Ylyanov, the Head of the FAS Russia's Department for Industry Control, said the contract was a serious restrictive barrier to market entry of new participants - potential developers and suppliers of EKLZ and spare parts. Removing this barrier should facilitate competition on the EKLZ in the Russian Federation. Any persons interested in those microcontrollers, regardless of the purpose of their use, must have an unrestricted access to acquiring them. FAS Russia will continue monitoring development of the situation in the relevant markets and if necessary is prepared to immediately apply measures of antimonopoly enforcement.