AMCU fined companies over UAH 133 million for bid rigging in tenders and privatization
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine adopted six decisions on anti-competitive conspiracies during public procurement and auctions. The total amount of imposed fines exceeded UAH 133.3 million, of which UAH 110 million was imposed on two companies that participated in tenders for the supply of electricity.
The decisions were adopted on September 8 by the Temporary Administrative Board of the AMCU based on the results of investigations by the South-Western Interregional Territorial Department. The Committee found joint and coordinated behavior of participants that eliminated competition during tenders and auctions.
The largest fine - for electricity tenders
The largest case concerned LLC "DE TRADING" and LLC "TORGOVA ELEKTRYCHNA KOMPANIIA". The AMCU established anti-competitive concerted actions during five tenders for the supply of electricity with a total expected value of over UAH 1.5 billion.
"DE TRADING" was fined UAH 50 million, and "TORGOVA ELEKTRYCHNA KOMPANIIA" - UAH 60 million. Thus, the total fine in this case amounted to UAH 110 million.
Another UAH 6.76 million in fines was imposed on LLC "MEGANOM UKRAINE" and LLC "KABELS'VITLOTEKH". The companies, according to the AMCU, coordinated their actions during 11 tenders for the procurement of cable products in 2021-2024. The total expected value of these procurements exceeded UAH 40.5 million.
LLC "ROMANTYS LOGISTICS" and LLC "ALBAT" were fined a total of UAH 1.26 million for a conspiracy during the procurement of meters by "Khmelnytskoblenergo" in 2022. The expected value of the procurement was UAH 28.65 million.
Conspiracies during privatization and land sales
Several other cases concerned auctions for the sale of state and communal property. LLC "Felicita Torg" and LLC "Myshkоvychi Distillery" were fined UAH 4.21 million for concerted actions during the privatization of property of Myshkоvychi Distillery of the State Enterprise "Ukrspyrt". As a result of the 2021 auction, the object was sold for UAH 27.6 million.
LLC "Buchach Malt Plant" and LLC "AgroBusinessVip" received a total of UAH 4.62 million in fines for distorting the results of the auction for the sale of the integral property complex of the state enterprise "Buchach Malt Plant". The contract following the auction was concluded for UAH 42.48 million including VAT.
Almost another UAH 6.47 million in fines was imposed by the AMCU on individual farm enterprise "Mendryk Anatolii Oleksandrovych" and farming enterprise "Nyva ridnoho kraiu". The Committee found a conspiracy during the Prozorro.Sale auction for the sale of a non-agricultural land plot, which the Shepetivka City Council held in 2023.
The AMCU also noted that some of the companies and farms involved in the cases admitted the fact of violating the legislation on protection of economic competition.
Based on materials: Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine
