SME cartel

SME cartels are cartels closed by small and medium-sized enterprises , which serve to improve the competitiveness of the participating companies, e.g. B. Agreements and resolutions on the joint purchase of goods. However, there must be no obligation to purchase for the companies involved.

In Germany, according to Section 3 GWB ( Act against Restraints of Competition ), small and medium-sized companies can be exempt from a ban. This is intended to enable the companies concerned to achieve a critical size, so that they have a better chance of surviving the competition of larger companies , especially when there are high market entry barriers .