Brussels, 19/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 19 October, the Japanese companies Asahi Glass (AGC) and Nippon Electric (NEG) and the German company Schott AG were fined a total of €128,736,000 for their involvement in a cartel which harmed consumers in Europe. Overall, the cartel lasted from 23 February 1999 until 27 December 2004 and consisted of coordinating glass prices for cathode ray tubes within the European Economic Area. Asahi Glass is fined €45,135,000, Nippon Electric €43,200,000 and Scott AG €40,401,000. The fines handed down to the three companies include a 10% reduction awarded to them for having acknowledged their part in the cartel, which helped the Commission to close its case more quickly. The Korean company Samsung Corning Precision Materials (SCP) was given total immunity from fines for having been the first to provide the Commission with information about the cartel. (OL/transl.fl)