PRESS RELEASE

A 110 MILLION FINE IMPOSED ON FOUR COMPANIES PROVIDING PUBLIC SCHOOL CLEANING SERVICES

The ICA imposed a fine for more than 110 million Euros on CNS (Consorzio Nazionale Servizi società cooperative), Manutencoop Facility Management, Roma Multiservizi and Kuadra, all companies providing cleaning services in the public school. The ICA, chaired by Giovanni Pitruzzella, ascertained the existence of an anti-competitive agreement that conditioned the outcome of the public tender called by Consip, the Public Administration’s purchasing organization. The tender, divided into 13 lots, had a total value of about 1.63 billion Euros. Through this agreement, the four companies – two of which are the largest operators on the market – actually annulled the competition in Consip’s tender allocating the most interesting lots among each other and winning the maximum number allowed.

According to the ICA’s opinion, the collusion was realized through a distorted use of the consortium. Although formally participating autonomously, the CNS and the consortium Manutencoop Facility Management agreed on a strategy - concurring with the other parties involved (Kuadra in ATI with CNS and Roma Multiservizi, participated in relevant measure by Manutencoop) – in order to achieve shared aims and thus alter the outcome of the tender. To this end, they also made use of subcontracts for the protection of their respective market positions. In fact, CNS subcontracted to Roma Multiservizi, with reference to the lots in Lazio, in exchange for the latter’s commitment not to participate in the tender.

Rome, 20 January 2016