Press Release: Antitrust: Commission fines producers of water management products €13 million in sixth cartel settlement

The European Commission has decided to fine a number of producers of water management products, used in heating, cooling and sanitation systems, for breaching EU antitrust rules that outlaw cartels and restrictive business practices. However, the Commission reduced the fines imposed by 10% as the companies concerned acknowledged their participation in the cartel and their liability in this respect.

Flamco and Reflex were fined a total of €13,661,000 for operating together with Pneumatex a cartel on the German market from June 2006 until May 2008. In addition, in autumn 2006, Reflex and Pneumatex expanded their anti-competitive behaviour to 13 other EU Member States for a limited period of three months. Pneumatex was not fined as it benefited from immunity under the Commission's 2006 Leniency Notice for revealing the existence of the cartel to the Commission.