Regional Court overturns largest ever antitrust fine

The Regional Court in Brno has overturned a nearly one billion crown fine imposed by the antitrust office (UOHS) on sixteen international engineering companies for forming a cartel. The fine was the highest that UOHS has imposed in its history. The case will now be returned to UOHS, unless the antitrust watchdog files a complaint with the Supreme Administrative Court. The court did not deny existence of a cartel, or the fact that it affected the Czech market, but ruled that it was unclear which companies from which concerns had taken part in it. UOHS welcomed the confirmation of the cartel, and said only it would be considering what steps to take next.