Swedish Competition Authority

Unlawful purchase of vehicle recovery services by police* For several years the Swedish Police Authority had been buying vehicle recovery services without a correctly procured agreement in place. The Swedish Competition Authority is now demanding that the Swedish Police Authority pay SEK 2 (...)

ATG’s financing of the horse industry is not sustainable* It is not a sustainable financing model that the horse industry receives its financing from the gaming company ATG’s surplus. This risks further strengthening ATG’s already dominant position and cementing the current structure of the horse (...)

The merger of Altia and Arcus is cleared after commitments* The Swedish Competition Authority clears the merger of Altia and Arcus. The merger is cleared on the condition that Altia and Arcus implement voluntary commitments that remedy the negative effects on competition that could have arisen (...)

Nyköping performed an illegal direct award of contract for groundworks* Nyköping Municipality entered a framework agreement regarding surfacing and groundworks without a prior notice in accordance with the procurement rules. The Swedish Competition Authority considers that the agreement (...)

Malmö’s purchase of supported housing services constituted an illegal direct award of contract* The Swedish Competition Authority is claiming that the Labour Market and Social Welfare Board in Malmö Municipality must pay SEK 10 million in procurement fines for carrying out an illegal direct (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority takes legal action against Arla Foods for unlawful cooperation*. According to the Swedish Competition Authority, Arla Foods has participated in an unlawful cooperation by exchanging strategic information with a competitor in the connection to a public (...)

Interpretation services incorrectly procured by Region Blekinge* Region Blekinge violated the rules on public procurement when the region purchased interpretation services. This is the conclusion of the Swedish Competition Authority, now referring the matter to the Administrative Court in Växjö (...)

Event arrangement considered an illegal direct award of contract* The company Affärsverken Karlskrona AB failed to comply with the procurement rules when the company entered into a contract for several event arrangements to a value of SEK 1.6 million. The Swedish Competition Authority is of the (...)

Strengthened powers for the Swedish Competition Authority* The Swedish government has presented a bill with proposals that strengthen the powers of the Swedish Competition Authority in the area of competition. The proposals include decision-making powers to impose fines for anti-competitive (...)

No extreme urgency when Huddinge Municipality directly awarded a contract for snow clearance* Huddinge Municipality was guilty of an illegal direct award when it failed to apply procurement rules to a contract for snow clearance. This is the conclusion of the Swedish Competition Authority, (...)

Hallsberg performed an illegal direct award of construction contract* Hallsberg municipality carried out the major refurbishment of a property without first publishing a contract notice as required under the Public Procurement Act. The municipality was therefore guilty of an illegal direct (...)

Draft bill submitted to the Council on Legislation regarding a proposal for enhanced powers of the Swedish Competition Authority* In a draft bill submitted to the Council on Legislation, the Government proposes that the Swedish Competition Authority’s decision-making powers should be extended (...)

Parking meters were improperly procured by Örebro Municipality* Örebro Municipality has made an illegal direct award of parking meters. The Swedish Competition Authority is now turning to the Administrative Court and petitioning for the municipality to be ordered to pay a procurement fine of SEK (...)

Nordic Competition Authorities release joint memorandum on digital platforms and the future of European policy* As a contribution to the debate on competition enforcement in the digital era and future rules for digital platforms, the Nordic competition authorities are today publishing a joint (...)

Swedish Competition Authority accepts commitments from training company* Bruce is a company that offers training services. The company has offered to limit its use of exclusive agreements with fitness studios in order to avoid that competition concerns arise. The Swedish Competition Authority (...)

Two companies consensually agree to pay administrative fines for engaging in unlawful cooperation* Two companies engaged in the sale of interior design, furniture, and home furnishing have consented to pay a fine order from the Swedish Competition Authority. The companies coordinated some of (...)

Nynäshamn Municipality carried out an illegal direct award of a building contract* When Nynäshamn Municipality had a property rebuilt into a group residence, this was a building contract that should have been procured in accordance with the Public Procurement Act. The fact that the agreement was (...)

No exception on artistic reasons when Örebrokompaniet purchased a light show* The exception for artistic performance was not applicable when Örebrokompaniet purchased event services without prior notice. The company is thus guilty of an illegal direct award of contract and the Swedish (...)

Municipal companies are required to comply with the Swedish Transparency Act* Stockholm Avfall AB and Stockholm Vatten AB, two municipal companies, will, as of fiscal year 2020, maintain so-called transparent and separate accounts in accordance with the Swedish Transparency Act. This is the (...)

Skellefteå Kraft was not allowed to give a direct award of contract due to extreme urgency* Skellefteå Kraft Elnät AB was in breach of procurement rules when it purchased materials for Vitberget, Bergsbyn, and Rönnskär without prior advertisement. The Swedish Competition Authority believes that (...)

Kalix has performed an illegal direct award of the operation of a golf course* Kalix Municipality has performed an illegal direct award of the operation of a golf course. This is the conclusion of the Swedish Competition Authority, which is now presenting a claim for the municipality to be (...)

The termination of a contract with a competitor did not constitute an abuse of a dominant position* Svenska Förpacknings- och Tidningsinsamlingen, FTI, does not have to provide its competitor TMResponsibility, TMR, access to recycling stations. The decision of the Patent and Market Court of (...)

A new research report analyses the number of bidders and the level of litigation in Swedish public procurement* The focus of the report is to identify key determinants of competition and litigation in Swedish public procurement and provide some guidelines to support the contracting authorities (...)

MARKET STUDY OF DIGITAL PLATFORMS* The Swedish Competition Authority is initiating a market study into competition on the markets for digital platforms in Sweden. This includes, for example, digital advertising, food delivery, audiobooks, and digital payment services. The study will illuminate (...)

High cartel fines for health care providers* Three health care providers that collaborated unlawfully in the procurement of health care services in Stockholm were ordered by Stockholm City Court to pay around SEK 28 million in fines. “I am very satisfied with the court’s clear message that (...)

Investigation of the online travel agency Expedia closed* After the online travel agent Expedia has changed the application of certain conditions in its contract with hotels, the Swedish Competition Authority has now closed its investigation of the company. Expedia operates under the (...)

New report on Sport and Competition Law* Sporting activity has, on several occasions, been scrutinised from a competition law perspective. However, it is possible to avoid contravening the rules on competition. A new research report, carried out on behalf of the Swedish Competition Authority, (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority brings action against companies in the removal business for anticompetitive agreements* The Swedish Competition Authority has petitioned that three companies in the removal business are sentenced to pay a total of SEK 42 million in fines since they have agreed (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority is going to court to stop the real estate concentration* The Competition Authority is going to court to prohibit Swedbank Franchise from acquiring Svensk Fastighetsförmedling. The deal would significantly impede competition on a large number of local markets. (...)

Malmö’s repeated procurement errors give higher demanded fines* A claim has been made for the municipality of Malmö to pay a fine/public procurement damages of SEK 325,000 following an illegal direct award. As the municipality of Malmö has previously been fined for an illegal direct award, the (...)

Judgement against Akademiska Hus concerning compliance with the procurement rules* The state-owned company Akademiska Hus must comply with the Public Procurement Act when it purchases goods and services. This is the decision of the Administrative Court in Umeå. The company has now been ordered (...)

Swedish Bodybuilding Association changes its application of loyalty clause* The Swedish Competition Authority welcomes the Swedish Bodybuilding Association’s (SKKF) confirmation that it will not suspend or fine members who participate in competing events. The Swedish Competition Authority has (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority: Systembolaget is covered by the procurement rules* The Swedish Competition Authority has been demanded by the Administrative Court in Stockholm to comment on a pending case before the Court. The Swedish Competition Authority finds that Systembolaget is a (...)

Herrljunga required to pay procurement fines* Herrljunga municipality has breached procurement rules by continuing to hire employment agency staff for several years without advertising the contracts. The Swedish Competition Authority is now going to court claiming procurement fines of SEK (...)

Haninge Bostäder hit with a SEK 10 million fine* It is not permissible for a municipal corporation to circumvent procurement rules by buying a company with assets instead of procuring. This is confirmed by the administrative court in a judgement against Haninge Bostäder which completely follows (...)

Municipality at fault for competing with private companies* The Services Office of the Municipality of Borås is prohibited from selling services to other parties than the Municipality. Stockholm City Court fully supports the Swedish Competition Authority in a verdict which rules that the (...)

Competition on the financial services market - Deposits, mortgages and funds* In a report from last year, ‘Competition on the financial services market - Deposits, mortgages and funds’ the Swedish Competition Authority found that competition in the Swedish banking and finance markets is still (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority appeals decision in favour of SJ* In a decision by the Administrative Court in Stockholm, the Court has declared that SJ (Swedish State Railways) could be a contracting entity subject to LUF (National Act on Procurement within the Water, Energy, Transport and (...)

Tire service chains ordered to pay fines for illegal joint tendering* The Stockholm City Court has ordered the tire service chains Däckia AB (Däckia) and Euromaster AB (Euromaster) to pay administrative fines amounting to SEK 2.5 million for illegal joint tendering in two public procurements. (...)

The City Court rules that there are no formal obstacles to charging Swedavia for competition damages* The Swedish Competition Authority may bring an action before the court to sue for competition damages even where the behaviour that forms the basis of the claim has already been forbidden by (...)

Alteration of framework agreement led to an illegal procurement* The Stockholm County Council made such great changes to a framework agreement relating to the purchasing of copiers that the contract must be considered a whole new procurement. As this was not publicly advertised, it constitutes (...)

Level playing field for the public and private sectors* Obstacles to well-functioning competition must be removed. This is the overarching message in a report recently submitted to the Government by the Swedish Competition Authority. One suggestion is to separately account for public sales (...)

A fair system of choice requires transparent municipal accounting* There are many reasons why municipalities with systems of choice must employ open and clear financial follow-ups for their own operations subject to competition. This is emphasized in a pilot study, where the Swedish (...)

Haninge Bostäder required to pay SEK 10 million in procurement fines* The Swedish Competition Authority demands that the municipal housing company in Haninge, Haninge Bostäder AB, pays procurement fines of SEK 10 million due to them having performed an illegal direct award. Haninge Bostäder has (...)

Fines demanded for collusion in care and treatment procurement* The Competition Authority has petitioned that three companies within the care and treatment business are to be sentenced to pay a total of almost SEK 30 million in fines as they have colluded during a public procurement. In 2008, (...)

Prohibition against Skelleftebuss’ bus charters* The Stockholm City Court has sided with the Swedish Competition Authority and found Skelleftebuss AB guilty of violating the Competition Act by chartering buses where the client is a party other than the municipality. "We are very pleased that (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority want to stop Assa Abloy from acquiring Prokey* The planned acquisition of Prokey AB by Assa Abloy AB means that Assa Abloy would gain a monopoly position in the wholesale services market for locksmiths. The Swedish Competition Authority is therefore taking the (...)

Sveriges Radio taken to court over procurement fines* Sveriges Radio carried out an illegal direct award of contract in connection with a staff party. The Swedish Competition Authority therefore requires Sveriges Radio to pay procurement fines of SEK 200,000. Sveriges Radio (public service (...)

The Swedish Competition Authority appeals ruling* The Swedish Competition Authority wants the Market Court to reverse the acquittal of the Dala-Mitt Rescue Services. The Stockholm City Court’s assessment is incorrect on several points and includes evidence requirements that go above and beyond (...)

Rental of office equipment must be procured* The Swedish Competition Authority requests that Karolinska Institutet pays SEK 200,000 in fines/procurement damages for having signed an agreement pertaining to rental of printers, scanners and copying machines without public procurement. (...)

SVT is required to pay fine for illegal direct award of contract* When SVT (the Swedish public service broadcaster) had a staff party, the company directly approached two suppliers instead of conducting a public procurement. The Swedish Competition Authority have now requested that SVT pay (...)

SJ taken to court over procurement penalties* According to the Swedish Competition Authority, SJ made an illegal move when acquiring cleaning services via direct procurement. Consequently, SJ is now required to pay penalties/procurement damages of SEK 8.5m. According to the Swedish (...)

Good for competitors, spectators and the development of automobile sports* The decision of the Swedish Market Court stating that the Swedish Automobile Sports Federation may not apply their loyalty rules is good for those involved in automobile sports as well as for the spectators. “I am very (...)

Putting a stop to common catalogue prices The office supplies chain, RKV, has undertaken to stop having common catalogue prices for office requisites. This commitment resulted from a review conducted by the Swedish Competition Authority. The office supplies chain RKV (Rationella Kontors (...)

Fines for the Swedish Armed Forces following improper procurement* The Swedish Armed Forces has been sentenced to pay procurement fines for an illegal direct award of contracts. In an application to the administrative court, the Swedish Competition Authority has demanded that the Swedish (...)

Swedish Competition Authority issues proceedings against bus companies in respect of a cartel* According to the Swedish Competition Authority, two bus companies – Ölvemarks and Scandorama – have committed unauthorised collusion on prices, referred to as a ‘cartel’. They are now required to pay just (...)

Sweden: Research Report on Collective Instalment of Broadband Internet or Cable-TV* In October 2009, the Swedish Competition Authority published a report in which an economic analysis of the effects on competition from collective instalment of broadband internet or cable TV was carried out. (...)