06/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Suspected cartel in power cable sector. On Wednesday 6 July, the European Commission sent a statement of objections to 12 companies detailing the Commission's preliminary view that they may have participated in a cartel for submarine and underground power cables and related products and services. Producers concerned, whose names were not disclosed at the inquiry stage, are thought to have colluded to allocate markets and customers for underground and submarine power cable projects and fix prices in the European Economic Area. The staetmnet of objections follows a series of unannounced inspections in January 2009 on the premises of several producers. The French producer, Nexans, and its Danish rival, NKT, have said they received the statement of objections. (F.G./transl.jl)