OFT accuses construction companies of bid rigging

24 April 2008

More than 100 construction companies, including many involved in highways, have been accused of bid rigging by the Office of Fair Trading.

Well-known names such as Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Connaught and Barrett Estates are among the 112 companies accused, but details of the specific projects involved have not been released.

An OFT spokesman said it could not confirm or deny that highways projects were involved in the allegations, which include cover pricing, collusion and agreements to pay backhanders to losing bidders for projects. Forty of the firms have already held their hands up, while 37 have applied for leniency, including Balfour Beatty and Carillion, which both blame discrepancies on small, subsidiary companies they have bought in recent years.

John Fingleton, OFT chief executive, said: ‘Cartel activity of the type alleged harms the economy by distorting competition and keeping prices artificially high. This investigation will hopefully send out a strong message to the industry.’

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