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Presentation OECD Bid Rigging Workshop Botswana On Outcome of the Construction Fast Track Project 26 July 2016 Mziwodumo Rubushe: HOD 1
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Background Aims/objectives of the Fast Track Settlement process Responses received from Firms Scope of the investigation Project life cycle Calculation of penalties in terms of the Competition Act 89 of 1998 Engagement with Stakeholders Civil damages process against Firms Brief outcome of the Construction Project Advocacy Intervention Presentation Outline 2
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Background Construction & Infrastructure sector is one of Commission’s priority sectors. The Commission conducted a number of investigations (including scoping exercises) in the product market (i.e. concrete pipes, cement, bricks). The Commission received many CLP applications from the Construction sector (i.e. cartels and bid rigging). Commission concluded that bid rigging is widespread. Noted that Britain and Holland had similar challenges and developed a fast track settlement process. Commission launched its fast track settlement process in 2011 to address bid rigging 3
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To incentivise firms. To encourage truthful and comprehensive disclosure by firms involved in bid rigging. Strengthen evidence against other firms. Minimise legal costs and speedily resolve complaints. To give firms that disclosed their involvement in bid rigging better financial settlement terms. Set the construction industry on a new trajectory. Aims/Objectives of the Fast Track Settlement process 4
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The Commission received settlement applications from 21 firms (including the largest 5 construction firms) since the launch. From the 21 firms, 15 firms settled with the Commission, 3 firms (i.e. Group 5, Construction ID and Power construction) refused to settle. The other 3 firms (NMC Construction, JT Ross and Rodio) were not liable to settle. Settlement applications revealed 300 projects. 160 prescribed projects valued at R9,8 billion (Private R7,2 Public R2,6) 140 non-prescribed projects valued at R37,3 billion (Private R11,7 Public R25,5) Responses received from Firms 5
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The fast track settlement ran concurrently with the CLP process. Firms were also implicated in prohibited practices they did not disclose. The Commission referred (i.e. July 2013) settlement agreements to the Competition Tribunal for them to be made orders of the Tribunal. An envisaged Phase 2 of the investigation project in the construction sector has commenced. The purpose is to prosecute firms that did not settle undisclosed projects and those firms that did not apply for settlement at all. Scope of the Investigation 6
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Project life cycle 7 February 2011 Settlement offer launched April 2011 Received of settlement applications April 2011/ongoing Evaluated and investigated applications February/April 2013 Pursued settlements with firms November 2012/January 2013 CC drafted consent agreements September 2012/February 2013 Engaged stakeholders May 2013 Finalised consent agreements with firms June 2013 Media release July 2013 Filed consent agreements with the Tribunal
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Calculation of penalties in terms of the Competition Act The Commission categorised each firm in the relevant sub-sector of the construction industry according to the number of non-prescribed prohibited practices: 8 Category Number of non-prescribed contraventions by applicant in a sub-sector Penalty - % of turnover of applicant in the sub-sector A 1 to 41% to 4% B 5 to 124% to 7% C 13 to 22 7% to 10% D 23 and over 10% to 12%
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Calculation of penalties in terms of the Competition Act – cont. The Commission considered the following factors when determining the penalty within the relevant range: Number of contraventions in each subsector. Number of projects won or lost. The size of the contract. Whether firm settled any claim for damages. Annual turnover in each sub-sector. Factors mentioned in section 59(3)(a)-(g) of the Competition Act 89 of 1998 as amended (“the Act”). 9
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The Commission consulted the affected government departments and its entities. The purpose was to show the extent of bid rigging and the process for claiming civil damages. The Commission has engaged DOT, DWA, DPE, SALGA, DPW; CIDB, Sanral, Eskom, Transnet, Cape Town Municipality, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Ethekwini Municipality and Polokwane Municipality. Engagement with Stakeholders 10
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Civil damages process against Firms In meetings with clients (i.e. government departments & SOEs), section 65 of the Act was explained as follows: It allows clients of section 4(1)(b)conduct [price fixing, market allocation and bid rigging] to claim for damages against offending firms. The Act allows two different ways to claim civil damages. Firstly, the Commission take into account civil damages settled by the firms with clients when considering Competition Act penalties. This is included in the consent agreement and subsequently made an order of the Tribunal. NO civil damages were included as part of the settlement agreement. Secondly, the victim may approach a civil court. A certificate is required from the Tribunal confirming the prohibited practice. The total settlement amount from the 15 firms is R1.47 billion. 11
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Brief outcome of the Construction Project 12 Firm’s name Disclosed projects /contraventions Non-disclosed projects /contraventions Settlement amount (R) WBHO (Pty) Ltd Agreed to settle 9 Agreed to settle 1 311 288 311 Murray & Roberts LtdAgreed to settle 7Agreed to settle 10309 046 544 Stefanutti (Pty) LtdAgreed to settle 12Agreed to settle 9316 892 664 Aveng Africa LtdAgreed to settle 9Agreed to settle 8306 576 147 Basil Read (Pty) LtdAgreed to settle 6Agreed to settle 1 94 936 248 Raubex (Pty) LtdAgreed to settle 9Refused to settle 2. 58 826 626 Haw & Inglis Civil (Pty) Ltd Agreed to settle 6None 45 314 041 Rumdel Construction (Pty) Ltd Agreed to settle 3None 14 1271465
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Brief outcome of the Construction Project 13 Firm’s nameDisclosed projectsNon-disclosed projectsSettlement amount (R) Giuricich Bros Construction (Pty) Ltd Granted immunity on 8Agreed to settle 1 3 552 568 Vlaming (Pty) ltdAgreed to settle 2Agreed to settle 1 3 421 662 Tubular Technical Construction (Pty) Ltd Agreed to settle 1None 2 634 667 G Liviero & Son Building (Pty) Ltd Agreed to settle 1 2 011 078 Hochtief Solutions AGAgreed to settle 1None 1 315 719 Norvo construction (Pty) Ltd Agreed to settle 1None 714 897 Esorfranki (Pty) Ltd Agreed to settle 1None 155 850 Total ValueR1 47 billion
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Advocacy South Africa has sophisticated procurement policies based on best practice National Treasury are custodians of procurement policy Regulated by the PFMA Preferential Procurement legislation provides for access by historically disadvantaged individuals Treasury Regulations provide for awareness of competition law by accounting officers Despite this firms have still found ways to rig tenders. 14
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Objective of Advocacy To identify; detect; prevent and report bid rigging Inform and educate procurement officials Incorporation of the CIBD into procurement policy To develop institutional capacity 15
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Educating Procurement Officials In August 2010, 5 Bid Rigging Workshops by Commission and OECD Audience was National Government Departments and State Owned Enterprises Agenda was identifying and detecting bid rigging; designing procurement specifications; bid rigging cases and case studies A total of 160 officials was reached. Since then CCSA has trained about 4000 procurement officials in the public sector (National government departments; provincial government departments; municipalities and state owned companies) 16
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Incorporation into Procurement Policy Commission drafted the CIBD and submitted to National Treasury Refined the CIBD with the National Treasury Treasury issued a Practice Notice on 21 July 2010 in terms of PFMA Notice provide for SBD9 Certificate of Independent Determination form. Provides for reporting to the Commission of bid rigging Criminal prosecution for providing false information Restriction from doing business with the public sector for a period not exceeding 10 years 17
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Building Institutional Capacity Developed curriculum for training of senior officials at PALAMA. Incorporation of Bid Rigging into Supply Chain Management Training Programme at PALAMA. Incorporation of Bid Rigging into Supply Chain Training by individual government departments and SOEs Established a Bid Rigging Working Committee consisting of Heads of Supply Chain from government departments and state owned enterprises for monitoring purposes. Building capacity of accounting officers to claim damages Blacklisting of guilty firms at National Treasury. Training at PALAMA commenced in February 2013. 18
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Thank you! Tel: +27 (0)12 394 3200 Fax: +27 (0)12 394 0166 Email: CCSA@compcom.co.zaCCSA@compcom.co.za 19
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