Building firms across the West Midlands, including Wolverhampton-based Carillion, were today accused of “bid rigging” by competition watchdogs.
It comes after one of the biggest ever investigations by the Office of Fair Trading.
Carillion is one of 112 firms across the UK that is alleged to have taken part in a cartel to fix prices when bidding for business.
Others include Adonis Construction of Kingswinford; Mansell plc, which has a division in Stourbridge; Linford Group of Lichfield; and Thomas Vale Construction of Stourport.
The OFT said more than 40 of the companies had already admitted price-fixing in the inquiry so far.
The firms involved could face huge fines, with any business found to be a member of a cartel liable to a fine of up to 10 per cent of global turnover – in Carillion’s case that is £4 billion.
The inquiry covers both the private and public sector, including contracts for schools and universities.
Firms named in the investigation have 30 days to respond to the allegations.
Simon Linford of Linford Group said an internal investigation by the company a year ago into contracts chosen by the Office of Fair Trading found no wrongdoing. The other companies named by the OFT were not available for comment this morning.
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