From originally 1.5 million euros, the fine rose to 70 million euros and is therefore even higher than the fine that Porr of Strabag had made in the construction cartel. The record barbecues against the Rewe Group to adopt a sales area in Wels in 2018 caused a sensation this week. In a project in Linz, Billa now acts as a “model student”.
“The sense of a formal error is massively disproportionate”, “such a draconian fine height is sustainably detrimental to Austria”, “The accused violation has not led to economic benefits for Rewe International AG” -ho the Rewe Group responded (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa (Billa ( Billa (Billa, Billa Plus, Penny, Adeg, BIPA) on the 70 million euros fine that the company made up for this week.
Leave the correct opinion that is justified at the given time
The Supreme Court had set up the original fine of 1.5 million euros after the federal competition authority and the federal cartel lawyer. What was that crime that is expensive of 70 million euros? To do this, you must go back to 2018 when the then subsidiary Merkur Warenhandels AG (now Billa Plus) took over the Food Retail Trade in the Welshinkentcentrum Welas-Park. In the procedure, Rewe had “relying on the reasonable legal opinion”, which meant that the rent of the location was not subject to registration. Another registration took place in August 2022, the takeover was approved – the punishment could no longer avert this.
Although the Federal Competition Authority emphasizes that there is a separate service point in the legal department in which companies can ask for uncertainties about the obligation to register, REWE has clearly become a wise of the damage. For example, the long-term rental of a supermarket store in the Pro-Kaufland in Linz has recently been registered with the Federal Competition Authority. The contract is concluded with the Magdalena project development GMBH.
Until December 7, 2024, the Rewe Group was represented in the “Pro” with a Billa Plus. “At the end of the first lease in 2019, the Federal Competition Authority was consulted and confirmed that the interim solution did not set a merger at that time,” said the retail group. By converting the shopping center, in which the group around Stefan Rutter and Christian Harisch invests 35 million euros, you now think of a long -term solution. This was therefore also registered.
“Market behavior of dominant players is stricter observed”
In any case, the 70 million euro fine against Rewe has a symbolic power. “It is clearly recognizable that concentrated markets such as the construction sector or food trade are increasingly focused on the interests of the authority in the past three to four years. The market behavior of dominant players is more strictly observed, “says Irmgard Pracher.
Complaints are used more often
“Smaller people more often use the complaints against the big ones,” says Leitnerlaw’s lawyer. This should be thought: “Right behavior and preventive, legally safe design of projects must be taken seriously and compliance should not be suffocated as a precious evil.”
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.
