Byko's violation of Paragraph 10 of the Competition Act

• Get document
• Case number: 11/2015
• Date: 9/7/2015
• Company:
  • Húsasmiðjan hf.
  • Byko hf.
• Sectors:
  • Constructions
• Policy Area:
  • Cartel or a dominance abuse
• Summary

  The Icelandic Competition Authority's (ICA) decision 11/2015 concludes that Byko violated the Icelandic Competition Act and the EEA-Agreement with extensive collusion with the former owners of Húsasmiðjan (old Húsasmiðjan here after) in the investigated period, took place in a period that ended in March 2011 when the investigation started. The violation included, e.g:

  • Regular, usually weekly, collusive exchange of information with Byko on price, inventories, etc. in order to raise prices and fight against price reductions of the so called rough hardwares (hardwares, such as timber, rockwool, steel).

  • Collusive discussions with Byko with the aim of raising prices on all price offers of hardware in periodic steps.

  • Collusion with Byko with the aim of preventing price competition on the market for impregnated timber (Icelandic: gagnvarið timbur, pallaefni).

  • A joint effort with Byko to convince Múrbúðin, a new competitor on the market for rough hardware, to participate in collusion on hardware prices and to have made a decision in collaboration with Byko to monitor the actions of Múrbúðin on the market.