Big construction firms lead rush to appeal OFT fines

Some of the UK's biggest construction firms are leading the way in appealing against the fines imposed by the Office of Fair trading (OFT) for illegally rigging bids for building projects.

Galliford Try today told shareholders it would contest its £8.3 million fine, the third-largest handed down by the OFT in the bid-rigging investigation, whilst Ballast Nedham is contesting its £8.3 million penalty, Crest Nicholson and Interior Services Group are also appealing fines of around £5 million.

Kier Group, which recieved the largest fine of nearly £18 million, filed its appeal last week.

The appeals will focus on the methods used by the OFT to calculate fines against individual companies. Overall, the regulator imposed £130 million in fines, amounting to slightly more than 1 per cent of the construction groups’ collective turnover, but some received proportionately higher fines than others.