OREANDA-NEWS. May 17, 2013. Moscow Arbitration Court considered a claim of “Sollers” OJSC, “UAZ” OJSC, and “UAZ Distribution Centre” Ltd. (SOLLERS Group of companies) on appealing FAS decision that the companies had violated the antimonopoly law.

On 26 September 2012, the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) found that SOLLERS Group of companies violated Part 5 Article 11 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (coordinating economic activities of companies that resulted in maintaining prices at competitive bidding).

The main evidence on the case were the documents discovered through unscheduled inspections of SOLLERS Group of companies, particularly, letters, sent to dealers that supplied UAZ cars under state procurement and under “commercial” competitive bidding.

In the letters SOLLERS Group of companies “appointed” one of the dealers the only bidder; other dealers were instructed not to take part in the bidding.

As a result of such coordination, only one company took part on most tenders for purchasing UAZ cars and the government contracts were concluded at the original (maximum) price.

At the Court hearing a representative of respondents withdrew the claim, explaining to the Court that his clients found further core processing of the claim futile. Thus, the leadership of “Sollers” OJSC, “UAZ” OJSC, and “UAZ Distribution Centre” Ltd. fully agreed with FAS decision that the companies had violated the antimonopoly law.

“FAS undertook sustained, careful efforts on the case. The evidence was clear and indisputable. We welcome SOLLERS decision to withdraw the claim and, taking the opportunity, we would like to remind that the antimonopoly body considers such actions as mitigating circumstances, which considerably affects the size of the fines”, commented the Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Alexander Kinyov.