If the existence of a horizontal monopolistic practice is proven, economic agents could be fined up to 10% of their annual revenues in Mexico, as well as those who have participated, contributed to this illegal conduct may be sanctioned under the Federal Mexican Criminal Code, and may be subject to up to ten years in prison.

Recommended actions

• In this type of proceedings it is normal for the antitrust authority to request information and documents from the companies offering products and services related to the market under investigation. In the event of receiving a request for information from the antitrust authority, it is essential to respond to such request, otherwise, the defaulting company will be subject to a fine.
• In some cases, the antitrust authority considers it pertinent to subpoena individuals who are presumed to have knowledge of the market under investigation, e.g., technical personnel or managers of companies that offer products and services related to the market under investigation. In case of receiving a subpoena, it is recommended to consult with an attorney specialized in antitrust & competition matters. 
• The Mexican antitrust authority is empowered to conduct dawn raids (on-site unannounced visits at the company's offices, through which they may request information and/or photocopy documents related to the market under investigation). In these cases, it is recommended to contact the company's legal counsel, and seek immediate advice from an antitrust & competition lawyer. Obstruction or failure to comply with a dawn raid may result in fines and/or criminal penalties.

Comments

• The investigations of monopolistic practices in the digital economy market have grown in popularity over the last 3 years, especially because of the existence of two antitrust authorities in Mexico: COFECE and the Federal Institute of Telecommunications (IFT). The disagreements between these institutions have often triggered dual investigations in the digital economy and at least three major controversies over which authority is competent to decide on antitrust matters. In 2020, COFECE published its Digital Strategy report to address the new challenges presented by the digitalization of the economy from a competition perspective. 
• Recently, COFECE reaffirmed their commitment, and in its Strategic Plan 2022-2025, identified the digital markets and public procurement as a key priority sector for the competition authority. Public procurement is a priority topic, given that taxpayers' resources are used and must be allocated effectively and within a framework of competition so that they maximize their purchasing power in the best terms for the public service.
• The investigation should not be understood as a judgment, but as an action by the authority to verify compliance with the Federal Mexican Antitrust Law.
• Horizontal monopolistic practices are anticompetitive agreements, contracts or arrangements between competing economic agents, whose object or effect is the manipulation of prices, restriction or limitation of supply or demand, division or segmentation of markets, and, in this particular case, agreement or coordination of bids in auctions, as well as the exchange of information between competitors to carry out any of the aforementioned conducts.
• This antitrust investigation was initiated on 31 March 2022. The inquiry period, of 120 business days,  shall be counted from this date in which the investigation period begun.
• Each period has 120 business days, which may be extended for the same period up to four times.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us if you wish to discuss how this development may impact your business operations in Mexico.