FCA initiates Cartel Court proceedings because of alleged cartel agreements in the elevators and escalators industry

5.2.2007

The Austrian FCA filed on January 30th, 2007, an application for the imposition of fines against leading Austrian elevator and escalator manufacturers allegedly participating in prohibited cartel conduct as to the installation, services and modernization of elevators and escalators in Austria. The alleged anti-competitive conduct concerned project allocation and market sharing, price agreements as well as the exchange of other confidential market data. According to the FCA’s information the anti-competitive behaviour started in the late 80ies and persisted until mid 2004. Those kinds of agreements constitute serious infringements of Austrian and European Competition Law.

The FCA’s investigations were triggered by leniency applications submitted by two companies according to § 11 para 3 WettbG (Austrian Competition Act - see BWB - Kronzeugenregelung).