19/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a judgment delivered on Thursday 18 December, the Court of First Instance upheld the sanctions imposed by the Commission on General Química S.A. and the Spanish companies jointly holding it, Repsol YPF S.A. and Repsol Quimica S.A. The argument of the latter two companies, that their subsidiary General Química S.A. had independently and unknown to them taken part in a rubber chemicals cartel between 1999 and 2000, was rejected. The Court upheld the Commission's decision of December 2005: the fine imposed on Quimica S.A. should be calculated on the turnover of the whole Repsol group, not simply on the turnover of the subsidiary. The fine of €3.38 million stands, therefore. In all, those companies which took part in the cartel, which ran from 1996 to 2001, have been fined €75.86 million. The products in this case improve the production and the characteristics of rubber products, particularly tyres for cars and other vehicles. (C.D./transl.rt)