Construction, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Markets and Companies

The appeal has been filed with the Administrative Regional Court which opened an administrative proceeding on November 10, 2017.

Depo said they had appealed against the Competition Council decision because the allegations about the company's participation in the cartel were untrue and the decision was unlawful but the competition watchdog had failed to listen to the explanations provided by the company.

According to Depo, it had never complied with the demands by Knauf construction materials producer regarding prices of Knauf products and had never been in touch with other home improvement retailers or participated in the cartel.

As reported, in October 2017 the Competition Council fined construction supplies retailers Depo DIY, Kesko Senukai Latvia and Tirdzniecibas Nams Kursi a total of EUR 5.78 million for running a cartel.

Depo was fined EUR 3,718,323, Tirdzniecibas Nams Kursi – EUR 1,145,077 and Kesko Senukai Latvia - EUR 920,618 fine.

Before that, the Competition Council settled its dispute with building materials producers Knauf and Norgips, and home improvement store Kruza, as the three companies agreed to pay fines totaling EUR 1.6 million.