Brussels, 31/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Commission imposed its fourth largest fine ever on five acrylic glass manufacturers for participating in a cartel. Acrylic glass or polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), best known under trade names such as Plexiglas, Perspex and Acrylite, has various uses, particularly in cars, DVDs, contact lenses, household goods, electronics, baths and showers. Between 1997 and 2002, Arkema (formerly Atofina), ICI, Lucite, Quinn Barlo and Degussa agreed on prices and exchanged confidential information in the European Economic Area, the Commission found following an inquiry. The first four companies mentioned were fined a total of 344.5 million euro, while Degussa was granted full immunity, after providing important information to the inquiry (the German company would otherwise have faced a fine of almost 265 million euro). Because they also cooperated, French firm Arkema and British Firm Lucite (25 million euro) also saw their fines reduced, but the French company, which is a repeat offender, will nonetheless have to pay the highest amount of all, more than 219 million euro. ICI, another United Kingdom company which is also a re-offender, was fined over 91 million euro, and Quinn Barlo will have to pay 9 million euro in fines. Since the Quinn group only purchased Barlo after the end of the infringement, the ultimate parent company (Quinn Group Ltd) was not an addressee of the decision, said the Commission in a press release.
The Commission inquiry showed that those involved met several times in hotels to plan coordinated price rises in January and November 2000. After exchanging information on their prices, the competitors agreed to raise the prices per kg sheets by 0.10 euro and also discussed the charges for extra services, like cutting and dying of sheets. “I am shocked that companies like ICI and Arkema have been fined once again,” said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. She went on, “These fines will serve as a cold shower for the management and shareholders of all these companies, who have to realise that cartels cannot and will not be tolerated”.