Brussels, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 30 November, the Court of the EU decided (in Case T-208/06) to reduced by €9 million to €8.25 million the fine handed down by the European Commission to certain companies of the Quinn group, which took part in a merger in the methacrylates (acrylic glass) sector. In late May 2006, the Commission noted the existence of a cartel in this sector and fined the companies in question a total of €344.5 million. Among the companies punished by this decision were three companies of the Quinn group: Quinn Plastics GmbH (successor to Barlo Plastics GmbH, which took part in collusive behaviour), Quinn Plastics NV (successor to Barlo Plastics NV, the parent company of Barlo Plastics GmbH) and Quinn Barlo (successor to Barlo Group Ltd, the parent company of the former Barlo Group). The Commission noted that they took part in the infringement from 30 April 1998 until 21 August 2000 and fined them €9 million. These companies took the matter before the court to have the Commission's decision cancelled or the level of the fine reduced. In today's ruling, the court partially cancels the Commission's decision and reduces the fine handed down to the companies of the Quinn group (new calculation taking account of the period of their effective involvement in the infringement - 11 months and 28 days), and reduces the weighting from 20% to 10%. (LC/transl.fl)