The Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has opened an investigation into CNS – Consorzio Nazionale Servizi Società Cooperativa, Dussmann Service, S.r.l., Engie Servizi S.p.a. (formerly Cofely Italia S.p.a.), ManitalIdea S.p.a., Manutencoop Facility Management S.p.a., Romeo Gestioni S.p.a. and STI Spa, in order to ascertain whether such companies, including through their subsidiaries, have established an agreement restricting competition, in infringement of Article 101 of TFEU. The subject matter of the investigation is the coordination of the methods for participation in the tender procedure issued by CONSIP to award the Facility Management services for Public Administrations properties and Public Universities and Research Institutes (FM4 call for tender).

Specifically, analysis of the participation strategies in the tender procedure issued by CONSIP in 2014 shows that there is no effective competitive confrontation between the parties due to non-overlap of the most competitive bids. The allegation is supported by the corporate and consortium links in place between these companies and/or the alliances they established to participate in the tender procedure.

Today, officers from the ICA have carried out inspections at the headquarters of the companies concerned, with the help of the Special Antitrust Unit of Guardia di Finanza.

The proceedings must be concluded by 30 May 2018.

Rome, 23 March 2017