The Austrian Federal Competition Authority (BWB) has concluded (29 January) its investigation into alleged collusion in security service tenders and has filed applications with the Cartel Court against two companies—Securitas Sicherheitsdienstleistungen GmbH and G4S Secure Solutions GmbH.
Securitas Faces €540,000 Fine, G4S Granted Leniency
On January 24, 2025, the BWB requested the Cartel Court to impose a €540,000 fine on Securitas for its role in the anti-competitive conduct. Meanwhile, G4S has been granted leniency status, meaning no fine has been sought against the company, but a declaration of infringement has been requested.
Bid-Rigging in Private Tenders
The investigation, initiated after a complaint, found that Securitas and G4S coordinated their bids in three private tenders between August 2019 and December 2022. The companies exchanged sensitive pricing and strategic information, aiming to influence clients into accepting specific offers—an illegal practice that distorts fair competition.
Cooperation Leads to Reduced Penalties
- Securitas cooperated fully with the BWB outside the leniency program and admitted to the infringement, leading to a reduced fine proposal.
- G4S, on the other hand, applied for leniency, voluntarily assisting the investigation. As a result, the BWB did not seek a fine but requested the Cartel Court to declare the infringement.
Leniency Program Encourages Self-Reporting
The BWB’s leniency program allows companies involved in cartels to receive reduced or no fines if they actively and truthfully cooperate with investigators. This mechanism encourages companies to come forward and aids authorities in uncovering anti-competitive practices.
The Cartel Court will now review the BWB’s applications and determine the final outcome for both companies.
