In September 2022, the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA) proposed that the Market Court impose a total of EUR 44 million in penalty payments on Onninen, Dahl Suomi, Ahlsell, Uponor Infra, Uponor Suomi, and Pipelife Finland for prohibited cooperation. The Market Court considered the evidence presented by the Authority in the case insufficient and rejected the proposal for a penalty payment.
According to the FCCA’s proposal, the largest manufacturers of plastic HVAC infrastructure pipeline products in Finland, Uponor Infra (formerly known as Uponor Suomi) and Pipelife, as well as the largest wholesalers selling infrastructure pipeline products, Ahlsell, Onninen, and Dahl Suomi, pursued in collaboration and anti-competitively to maintain their own market positions and to curb price competition in the market in the period 2009–2016.
According to the Market Court’s assessment, Pipelife and Uponor Infra did not act in violation of competition law. However, the Market Court considered that Onninen, Dahl Suomi, Ahlsell and Uponor Suomi sought to hamper their competitor’s activities in the market in a manner prohibited under the Competition Act. According to the Market Court’s assessment, this was a temporary and individual case, contrary to the FCCA’s proposal. As the Market Court considered that the procedure was significantly less extensive than proposed, it did not impose a penalty on the companies.
“The Market Court’s assessment of the evidence presented in the matter differs from that of the FCCA. We will take a closer look at the Market Court decision and then decide whether or not to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court."
The decision by the Market Court is not legally binding.