21 June 2015​

 

 

 

The Portuguese Competition Authority (PCA) has imposed a fine of € 150.000 on Peugeot Portugal Automóveis, S.A. for providing false, inaccurate or incomplete information in response to a request of the PCA, under its sanctioning powers.

This is the first time PCA imposes a fine for providing  false,  inaccurate  or  incomplete information, as determined by the Competition Act.

The supply by the undertakings, following PCA’s requests, of all the information in an accurate, complete and exact form, is absolutely crucial to the full execution of the sanctioning and supervisory powers by the PCA.

In this regard, the providing by an undertaking, negligently or deliberately, of any information that turned out to be misleading or incomplete, in any way, besides generating obstacles to the investigation, could also allow the occultation of competition issues within the market at stake, damaging companies and consumers.

The proceedings were opened in the beginning of march 2015 and the Statement of Objections (communication of the accusation) was issued on 12 march 2015, allowing for the defendant to exercise its right of hearing and defense. The undertaking has sent its observations to the PCA’s Statement of Objections on the 16th April 2015, which were taken into account in the PCA’s Decision.

The PCA’s decision is subject to judicial review by the Competition Regulation and Supervision Court.