OREANDA-NEWS. May 12, 2011. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) initiated a case against “Chlorcomplex” Ltd. upon the signs of violating Part 3 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (prohibiting coordination of economic activities), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 31st March 2011, FAS Russia found that eight participants of the market of liquid chlorine violated Clause 1 and Clause 3 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (agrement on fixing prices and dividing the market): “Khloractiv” CJSC, “Bekborn” Ltd., “RusTrade” Ltd., “Caustic” OJSC (of Volgograd), “Khimprom” OJSC (of Novocheboksarsk), “Khimprom” OJSC (of Volgograd), a group of persons comprising “Sibur” Ltd., “Sibur Holding” CJSC, “Sibir-Neftekhim” OJSC, and a group of persons comprising: “Khimprom” Production Association” Ltd. and “Khimprom” Trading House” Ltd.

In course of the investigation, FAS Russia established that chlorine producers and sellers entered into an agreement about fixing prices and dividing the market according to the scope of sales and the categories of buyers. Cartel determined the chlorine market share of each cartel member, assigned particular customers to each producer and its dealers, formed the bodies coordinating cartel activities and the mechanisms of control.

Within the period of cartel operation, agreements were concluded with its participants: “Caustic” OJSC (of Volgograd), “Khimprom” OJSC (of Volgograd), “Sibir-Neftekhim” OJSC (of Nizhnij Novgorod), “Khimprom” Production Association” Ltd. (of Kemerovo), “Khimprom” OJSC (of Novocheboksarsk) about collecting and providing information about current prices, yield / output of the most important types of chemical products, including liquid chlorine in containers. “Chlorcomplex” Ltd. was the executor of these agreements.

“Obtaining information under these agreements allowed each cartel participant to control, through an independent source, reliability of the data that they exchanged and, therefore, comply with the conditions of the agreements about the scope of sales and prices for liquid chlorine in containers”, said the Head of the FAS Russia’s Cartel Department Alexander Kinyov. “Thus, providing information about current prices, yield / output of liquid chlorine in containers, which was used to control compliance with the agreement conditions, “Chlorcomplex” Ltd. could have coordinated economic activities of market participants”.

The case is scheduled for 26th May 2011.