Four estate agents fined £372,233 for anti-competitive price-fixing

Four residential estate agencies admitted to anti-competitive practices for price-fixing and have been fined thousands of pounds as a result.

In December 2015, an investigation was launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after a previous CMA investigation into the advertising of fees in the estate and letting agency sector. The current investigation looked into whether the estate agents breached Chapter I of the Competition Act (CA). In simpler terms, Chapter I of the CA highlights agreements between companies that prevent, restrict or distort competition.

What they found was evidence of anti-competitive behaviour.
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Looking back on one of the biggest anti-competitive investigations in the construction industry…

Nearly 100 companies were fined up to £130 million for cover pricing back in 2009.

Back in November 2004, the now closed Office of Fair Trading (OFT) opened up their investigations into more than a hundred companies suspected of foul play in the infrastructure industry, mainly for cover pricing. Cover pricing is an illegal activity under the Competition Act in England and Wales where participants warp the tender process of bidding for a job.

In total, their investigation resulted in fines being issued to over 100 companies totalling nearly £130 million.
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U.S. poultry producers subject to multiple lawsuits for alleged anti-competitive behaviour

Tyson Foods are subject to anti-competitive lawsuits for alleged poultry price-fixing and collusion in America.

Being the world’s second largest processor of poultry, competition regulation is especially necessary to ensure they’re not making a monopoly and adversely affecting the markets.
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