Heijmans chooses the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) accelerated fines process

Heijmans has received reports from the NMa on cases 4155 (groundworks and civil engineering in general) and 3183 (major infrastructure works).The reports cover the entire infrastructure sector with the exception of cables, pipelines and traffic systems. On 20 October, Heijmans received a list of the European Commission's objections on the matter of buying bitumen for asphalt production. Together with 13 other companies, Heijmans is suspected of infringing the competition law as a result of coordinating activities on the bitumen market.

 

Heijmans is choosing take up the NMa offer of an accelerated procedure. NMa is offering this procedure owing to the large number of construction companies considered to have participated in the infringements. Opting for the accelerated procedure implies that Mr J.C. Blankert (former chairman of the employer's organisation VNO NCW, former chairman of NOC NSF) will be authorised on behalf of Heijmans and other companies to put forward a common view to the NMa. Mr Blankert is carrying out this task as the authorised representative of all the companies that are opting for the accelerated procedure.

 

As a consequence of a number of ambiguities, Heijmans is currently still unable to give an indication of the size of the fine related to these activities. Choosing the accelerated process means that the size of the fine for this market sector will become clear in approximately January 2005.

 

Reports on the other sectors relevant to Heijmans are expected in January 2005 (Other, including cables and pipelines) and April/May 2005 (Building). It is expected that similar accelerated fines procedures will be started for these market sectors, based on these reports.

 

The list of objections from the European Commission follow on from an investigation started two years ago in which Heijmans cooperated fully. Heijmans will be studying the Commission's preliminary conclusions.