3 Firms to Be Fined 32 M. Yen over ANA Uniform Bid-Rigging

June 14, 2018

Tokyo- Japan's Fair Trade Commission plans to slap three department store operators with fines totaling 32 million yen over their suspected bid-rigging for flight attendant uniforms delivered to All Nippon Airways, informed sources have said.

The three--Sogo & Seibu Co., Takashimaya Co. and Meitetsu Department Store Co.--will also receive cease-and-desist orders, the sources said.

The antitrust watchdog has given advance notices on the actions to the firms.

The FTC will issue cease-and-desist orders to major trader Itochu Corp. <8001> and Onward Trading Co. as well.

In response to ANA's inquiries about estimated prices of the uniforms, officials concerned from the five companies allegedly held talks to adjust the estimated sums and preselected winning bidders, according to the sources.

They rigged bids for orders worth a total of some 2.5 billion yen, according to the sources.

Earlier this year, the FTC recognized bid-rigging over contracts for uniforms delivered to East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, West Japan Railway Co., or JR West, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone East Corp., and took actions against companies involved, including department store operators. Jiji Press