On 26 April 2010 the Spanish National Competition Authority ("CNC") initiated infringement proceedings against motorbike manufacturer Montesa Honda SA and six of its dealers in the Madrid, Guadalajara and Toledo provinces of Spain for alleged anti-competitive practices prohibited by Article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act relating to agreements for fixing the minimum resale price of Honda's motorbikes, as well as the retail margins that dealers grant to their agents for sales made by them.
These proceedings are a result of an undisclosed investigation by the Investigations Division of the CNC following a complaint made to it, as well as the inspections carried out by the CNC on 17 December 2009 at the headquarters of Montesa Honda SA and the various dealers involved.
As a result of the probe, the Investigations Division has found prima facie evidence of conduct prohibited by Article 1 of the Spanish Competition Act. An infringement procedure has now been commenced and the CNC has 18 months to investigate the case.
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