Bratislava, June 24, 2025 — The Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic (PMÚ) has carried out a series of unannounced inspections targeting businesses operating in the air conditioning, refrigeration, and heat pump services sector. The dawn raids, conducted on June 10–11, 2025, follow suspicions of anti-competitive collusion.
According to the PMÚ, the inspections were prompted by reasonable suspicion that several companies may have entered into agreements aimed at restricting competition. Investigators are probing whether the businesses coordinated pricing and exchanged sensitive commercial information, potentially to the detriment of end consumers.
If confirmed, such conduct could constitute a horizontal cartel—an illegal agreement among direct competitors—which is considered one of the most serious breaches of competition law. Firms found guilty of such offences could face fines of up to 10% of their turnover for the previous financial year.
The authority underscored that the inspections are preliminary steps in the investigation process. “The mere fact that inspections have been carried out does not imply that the companies involved have violated competition rules, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the inquiry,” PMÚ stated.
This latest enforcement activity marks an ongoing effort by Slovak authorities to crack down on cartels and promote fair competition in essential service sectors.
