Cartel fined

Netherlands: Fines totalling more than € 100 million (US$ 77 million) were handed down to 345 Dutch and foreign construction companies by the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) in April. The fines are the result of an investigation launched by the NMa in October last year, following the voluntary notification of illegal acts by 140 companies.

The companies were part of a 400-strong group active in the earthworks, road construction and hydraulic engineering sectors, which were accused of participating in a cartel between 1998 and 2001.

Some of the companies were also fined for market sharing agreements on a number of large infrastructure projects, including the Dutch high-speed rail link, HSL Zuid.