On March 9, 2021, the Georgian National Competition Agency has completed the investigation into the alleged violation of Article 7 of the Law of Georgia on Competition (Restrictive Competition Agreement, Decision, and Concerted Action) based on the application submitted by the "G & Audit Service Group" Ltd to the Agency. Based on the investigation, the violation of Article 7 of the Law of Georgia "On Competition" by the respondent undertakings- "Aladashvili & Co." Ltd., "Nili" Ltd., "Tari 08" Ltd. and "Elf" Ltd., was confirmed. In particular, redistribution of the market in specific public procurements announced to provide free canteen services was revealed. The research analyzed the relevant market and its nuances. Appropriate sanctions were imposed on the undertakings following the law.
Ltd Citroen Georgia submitted a complaint to Competition Agency, regarding the alleged anticompetitive conduct by the LTD “Strada Motors, LTD “Iberia Autos”, LTD “Hyundai Auto Georgia”, LTD “Kia Motors Georgia”, ltd “Gt Motors” and JSC “France Auto”. According to the complainant, the undertakings were granted with such benefits that put them in preference and as a result the complainant was restricted in the state procurements. As a result of the investigation anticompetitive conduct was not established.
In accordance with the order of the Georgian courts, Competition Agency has begun re-investigate the oil commodity market. As the result of investigation, five largest oil companies operating in the country were found to be in breach of market distribution. It was also re-established the fact of price fixing in the subcontracting and partnership agreement signed by individual companies. The undertakings fined up to 3 million Georgian Lari for violating the competition legislation, which was paid into the state budget.
On the basis of the information provided by the State Audit Office, Competition Agency of Georgia started an investigation on its own initiative regarding possible bid rigging by undertakings (Ltd “V-Qom”, Ltd „Nishi“, Ltd “Timeservice”, Ltd “MyGps”) in a tender of public school students’ transportation service. As a result of investigation, the violation of the Law of Georgia on Competition was not established.
Competition Agency of Georgia started an investigation on its own initiative to assess market behavior of the members of Georgian Wheat and Bakery Producer’s Association “Globalagro”. The subject of the investigation was - whether there was an anti-competitive agreement between the members of the association. As a result of investigation, “Globalagro“ involvement in an anti-competitive agreement was not established.
“Consumer protection organization” submitted a statement to Competition Agency on the alleged violation of the Article 7 of Law of Georgia on Competition by Motor Gas distributor companies, having an agreement with each other on fixing (increasing) the retail prices of Motor Gas. As the result of investigation, the violation of the Law of Georgia on Competition was not established.
Competition Agency of Georgia by its own initiative started the investigation on Fuel Commodity Market (petrol, diesel, kerosene). During the investigation from the fuel market have been allocated Jet Fuel market, as an independent commodity market. As a result of investigation, there is no evidence on violation of Law of Georgian on Competition by the economic agents operating on the Jet fuel commodity market.
Competition Agency of Georgia started an investigation on oil commodity market on its own initiative. As a result of investigation has been determined that oil companies were involved in an anti-competitive agreement that included price fixing, market sharing and market restriction. The companies were imposed fines up to total of 55 000 000 GEL. However, the court annulled the decision and in accordance with the order of the Georgian courts, Competition Agency has begun re-investigate the oil commodity market. Accordingly, the Agency has made a new decision on the case.
