France’s Competition Authority (Autorité de la Concurrence, “FCA”) announced that TNT, Kuehne + Nagel and Royal Mail have been ordered to pay fines of €58m, €32m and €55.1m respectively. These fines have been given in relation to alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the French parcel delivery sector relating to activities which took place before 2010.
TNT has stated the company co-operated with the investigation since it started in 2010. During the third quarter of 2014, TNT entered into a settlement agreement with the FCA and booked a provision of €50m in relation to this matter.
French Alloin Group, a company that was acquired by Kuehne + Nagel in 2009 has been implicated although Kuehne + Nagel has stated €31m of the total €32m fine is attributable to the time before the acquisition. Kuehne + Nagel stated that it dissociates itself from such business practices, has a comprehensive compliance programme and has been cooperating with the French Competition Authority since 2010.
Royal Mail released a statement in which it accepted the ruling of the French Competition Authority, confirming that GLS France was in breach of antitrust laws in the period 2004 to 2010. The company also stated it has implemented an enhanced compliance programme in GLS France.
