CMA objections and settlements in roofing materials investigation

CMA objections and settlements in roofing materials investigation

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued supplementary statements of objection alleging that three suppliers of roofing materials have engaged in a market sharing cartel in breach of the Chapter I prohibition and Article 101 TFEU.

The further objections supplement allegations issued in March 2019.

The CMA provisionally concludes that there were four individual cartel arrangements rather than one single and continuous infringement (SCI) embracing each party’s involvement in the cartel.  The change in formulation of the charges perhaps reflects the CMA’s desire to frame its case in a way that would be less likely to withstand a challenge given the difficulties in establishing an SCI.

Associated Lead Mills and BLM British Lead have settled with the CMA and agreed to pay fines exceeding £11 million.  Calder Industrial Materials has made no admission of liability and the CMA's investigation into the latter continues.