Stampa

O.N.I.+ALTRI/CANTIERI DEL MEDITERRANEO


PRESS RELEASE



PRESS RELEASE
The Authority has begun an investigation into an alleged agreement regarding
 tenders to supply diesel fuel to public transport companies


On 30 May 2001, the Competition Authority began an investigation to ascertain whether anti-competitive agreements had been concluded between companies submitting tenders to supply diesel fuel to the local transport companies in Milan, Turin and Naples.
The companies under investigation are: A.C.L.A., Agip Petroli, Ambrogio Moro, Arcotrading, Atriplex, Beta Import, Cam Petroli, Q8 Quaser, Cernusco, D.a.r.m. Petroli, Eliolub, Elyo Italia, Eredi Campidonico, Europetrol, Focalia, Gorla, I.P.A. Gas, Iplom, La 91 Petroli, L.M. Petroli, Maxcom Petroli, Natalizia Petroli, Nelsa, Olicar, Opam Oils, Petroltermica Comac-Olcea, Restiani, S.i.c.l.a., Tamoil Petroli, Termoil, Total Fina Elf Italia and the Passarelli Raffaela company.
It has been claimed that these companies had concluded agreements contrary to section 2 of the Competition Act by colluding in the tenders submitted, taking turns to be awarded the tenders and abstaining from bidding, designed as a means of sharing the diesel fuel market to supply the public transport companies.
Choosing certain companies to put in bids on a temporary joint venture basis may have helped them to act anti-competitively, giving the bidding companies greater certainty regarding the outcome of the tendering procedure, thereby putting the alleged agreements on a more stable basis.
The Competition Authority has instituted these proceedings, acting on complaints lodged by two local public transport corporations, ANM of Naples and ATM of Turin, which discovered anomalous conduct on the part of the companies tendering for the supply of diesel fuel.  The preliminary investigations conducted by the Authority also found that there had been anomalous conduct in the tenders for supplying the Milanese transport company, ATM.
The investigation will be completed by 11 October 2002.

Rome, 8 June 2001