The Food Group Rewe criticizes the fine of the record cartel that was recently imposed by the Supreme Court (OGH) as an antitrusthof. The “exorbitant punishment” of 70 million euros for “a formal violation” is “massively disproportionate”, the Billa mother criticized Thursday.
As reported, the OGH increased the fines originally established by the Antitrusthof compared to EUR 1.5 million after recursions by the Federal Competition Authority and the Federal Cartel Attorney Attorney of EUR 1.5 million to EUR 70 million. With regard to the OGH decision, Rewe referred to the fact that “if the procedure at the opening and at the given time the reasonable legal opinion” was not subject to the rent of the affected location in Wels.
“Sustainable disadvantage for the business location”
“Subsequent registration took place – and the acquisition of the location was approved,” the supermarket chain emphasized. “Such a draconian criminal height to achieve deterrent effects is a permanent disadvantage for Austria.”
For Rewe, the amount of the fine for “a formal violation” is not understandable. “It is as if someone is obliged to pay a punishment that corresponds to the equivalent of a new car due to an incorrectly completed parking ticket to show that parking certificates must be filled correctly.
Supermarket chain wants to check “all legal options”
The supermarket chain still wants to “check” all possible legal options to take action against the judgment “. At the same time, the company calms: “We will bear any punishment, neither customers nor employees or employees will be charged.”
The Rewezaak was a few years ago: in mid-2018, the then subsidiary Merkur Warenhandels AG (now Billa Plus) took over sales areas for a food shopping center in Welas Park in Wels, where Weiß Handels GmbH had previously operated a food store. This process was initially not registered as a merger at the Federal Competition Authority (BWB).
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
