Citizen, Swatch, Hugo Boss, Longines or Certina – prices of these branded watches might have resulted from price fixing. The President of UOKiK has instituted three proceedings against the following importers: the Swatch Group (Polska), Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowo–Usługowe Jubiler and  Anyro&Co

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection is carrying out nearly 30 proceedings concerning prohibited agreements. The President of UOKiK has also initiated three proceedings to find out if companies importing watches have entered into prohibited agreements with their distributors. The information on allegedly prohibited practice was gained, among others, during inspection with search held at undertakings’ premises.

The first proceedings concern the Swatch Group (Polska), the exclusive representative of brands such as Swatch, Tissot, Certina, Longines or Rado. The company cooperates with approx. 200 independent sellers of watches. At the present moment UOKiK is examining if the undertaking has imposed minimum retail resale prices of watches on its trading partners.

Przedsiębiorstwo Handlowo–Usługowe Jubiler is also suspected of applying competition-restricting practices. The company is an exclusive distributor of e.g. watches under the brand of Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss and Kenneth Cole. The information collected by UOKiK shows that the undertaking might have concluded an agreement with its partners, and consequently the distributors apply the minimum sale prices of watches as imposed by the company.

Anyro&Co, the sole legal distributor of Citizen and Fossil Group watches in Poland (including brands such as Armani, Fossil, Diesel and Adidas), is another undertaking suspected of imposing prices. The company might have been fixing minimum prices for distributors to sell goods.

For participation in a competition-restricting agreement, undertakings can be imposed a fine of up to 10 % of revenue gained in the year preceding the decision.

Participants to prohibited agreements may expect immunity from fines provided they cooperate with UOKIK under the leniency programme. Any undertaking who produces evidence indicating the existence of a cartel, was not its initiator and ceased the unlawful practice, may expect even a full immunity from financial sanctions. UOKiK’s lawyers are available at +48 22 55 60 555 to respond to any questions concerning this programme, even anonymous.

Additional information for the media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel.: +48 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314, 55 60 430
Fax: +48 22 826 11 86
E-mail: [SCODE]bWFsZ29yemF0YS5jaWVsb2NoQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]