On 18 September 2019 the Italian Competition Authority closed the proceedings in case I822, ascertaining an anti-competitive agreement, in violation of Art. 101 TFEU, aimed at restricting competition in the context of the tender issued by Consip SpA in December 2015, concerning the provision of Integrated Health and Safety services in the workplaces for Public Administrations, whose overall value amounted to 100 million euros.

In particular, the Authority found that the main companies operating in the sector, namely: Com Metodi SpA, Sintesi SpA and Igeam Srl, the latter in joint venture with Igeamed Srl and Igeam Academy Srl, have restricted competition via an anti-competitive agreement, aimed at sharing the tender lots in order to maintain their historic market shares. The collusive agreement was implemented through the presentation of ‘checkerboard’ offers capable of eliminating any competition between the undertakings in the tender lots of respective interest.

Bid-rigging represents one of the most serious breaches of competition law, since it prevents tendering procedures from delivering better price and quality as well as greater innovation for the Public Administration, and thus for all citizens. Due to the gravity of the infringement, the Authority has imposed the aforementioned companies fines totalling over three million euros.

During the proceedings, the Authority was supported by the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Finance Police.

Rome, 02 October 2019