News
Kaufmann fined DKK 6 million (€ 804,200) for infringing the competition rules
The Danish clothing retailer Axel Kaufmann Aps has acknowledged infringing violating competition law by engaging in anti-competitive agreements. The company has paid a fine of DKK 6 million, and two members of the management have each paid fines of DKK 120,000 for their involvement in the infringement.
Kaufmann and the two members of the management were fined for participating in illegal information exchange with their supplier, Hugo Boss. The fact that the supplier was also active in the same market made the information exchange a violation of the competition rules.
This case is part of a case complex where Hugo Boss unlawfully exchanged information with the two retailers, Kaufmann and Ginsborg, regarding prices, discounts, and/or quantities for future sales. Hugo Boss is a supplier to both clothing retailers but also competes with them by selling Boss products in its own stores.
The information exchange between Hugo Boss and Kaufmann occurred from January 2014 to November 2017.
Other aspects of the case are still pending in the legal system.
In 2020, the Danish Competition Council ruled that several clothing retailers, including Kaufmann, had violated competition law. Since then, the Competition Appeals Tribunal and the Maritime and Commercial Court have confirmed that the information exchange was illegal.
It is the Special Crime Unit that has handled the criminal prosecution of the case.
For further information
Head of Communications at the Competition and Consumer Authority, Hanne Arentoft, can be contacted by phone at (+45) 41 71 50 98.