🔍 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 ‘𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬’

Today the Belgian Competition Authority (“BCA”) imposed substantial fines on Securitas, G4S, and Seris for their involvement in cartel practices within the private security services sector. The fines amount to a €47.095.112.

The practices in question spanned from 2008 to 2020 and included:

𝟏. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠: The companies applied minimum hourly rates for security guards, as established within their professional association.

𝟐. 𝐁𝐢𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠: The firms coordinated bidding intentions and ensured specific contracts remained with particular suppliers. Prices were also agreed upon.

𝟑. 𝐍𝐨-𝐏𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠: The companies mutually agreed not to hire each other’s employees, a practice under increasing scrutiny by competition authorities.

Securitas received no fine as it benefits from full immunity (having brought the infringement to the authority’s attention). G4S and Seris received leniency reductions of 50% and 40% respectively for cooperating. Moreover, the companies acknowledged their infringement in exchange for a further 10% reduction of their fines. The BCA’s press release also highlights that 11 individuals received immunity, while proceedings continue for one individual.

🌐 More info? Read the press release of the BCA (EN NL FR) 👇https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7214305919789084672

👋 Want to learn more about what you can and cannot agree with your competitors or about immunity? Feel free to reach out to your usual contact person at contrast.

#competitionlaw #antitrust #cartelenforcement #compliance #bidrigging #contrastupdate