April 16/2004
Japan Fair Trade Commission
The Fair Trade Commission of Japan (JFTC),following an investigation into the participants in comparison of estimates for the contracts of paving works called by the Water Department of, Osaka City, issued a recommendation to the participants as they allegedly violated of Section 3 (Unreasonable restraint of Trade) of the Antimonopoly Act.
1. Parties concerned
(1) Works on repairing water supply equipments (2 recommendations were issued concerning these works)
Parties concerned, who participated in a bid of estimated prices for works on repairing the water supply equipments ordered by the Department of Water Service, Osaka city determined a winner of the bid and enabled the winner to receive the order. The Department designated the participants every areas it divided. The bid rigging took place in 2 areas. The parties concerned consequentially restricted competition in the field of this trading area contrary to the public interest.
(2) Retrieving paving works after water pipe works (8 recommendations were issued concerning these works)
Parties concerned, who participated in a bid of estimated prices for retrieving works ordered by Department of water service, Osaka city,determined a winner of the bid and enabled the winner to receive the order. The Department designated the participants every areas it designated. The bid rigging took place in 8 areas. Contrary to the public interest, these parties concerned consequentially restricted competition in the field of this trading area.
2. Outline of Violation
(1) Parties concerned shall confirm that every party stops the conducts, described in above 2.
(2) Parties concerned shall inform Osaka City measures they will take based on the order above 3 (1) and the oath they will not involve in similar conducts described in 2.
(3) They should refrain from any conduct similar to the conducts described in 2 above in the future.
3. Deadline for accepting or rejecting these recommendations is 26 April 2004
(If the recommendations is accepted, a decision consisting of the same items contained in this recommendation shall be issued, if not hearing procedure shall commence.)
*Every announcement is tentative translation. Please refer to the original text written in Japanese.
