When Budapest public transport company BKV invited offers for ferry services in the summer of 2020, executives noticed that the submitted documents were almost identical.

The GVH inquiry, launched a year later, found that the companies had colluded in setting prices before bidding and that the documents were prepared by the same person, the CEO of one of the companies.

The concerted anti-competitive behaviour continued throughout the public procurement procedure, the investigation revealed.

The fine was reduced because the companies acknowledged the violation and voluntarily provided evidence to the regulator.

Cartel activities are considered to be the most serious infringements in competition law, the GVH added.

Photo courtesy: mahart.hu