Antitrust: Commission fines three companies €68 million for car battery recycling cartel

On 8 February 2017 the European Commission released a press release stating it had fined Campine, Eco-Bat Technologies and Recylex a total of €68 million for fixing prices for purchasing scrap automotive batteries, in breach of EU antitrust rules. A fourth company, Johnson Controls, was not fined because it revealed the existence of the cartel to the Commission.

From 2009 to 2012, four recycling companies took part in a cartel to fix the purchase prices of scrap lead-acid automotive batteries in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The companies are Campine (Belgium), Eco-Bat Technologies (UK), Johnson Controls (US) and Recylex (France).

ESO: Background information: Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of automotive seat structure manufacturer CRH by automotive supplier Johnson Controls http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-mergers-commission-approves-acquisition-of-automotive-seat-structure-manufacturer-crh-by-automotive-supplier-johnson-controls/

ESO: Background information: Antitrust http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-antitrust/

European Commission: DG Communication: Statement/17/247 08.02.2017 Statement by Commissioner Vestager on a Commission decision fining companies €68 million for car battery recycling cartel http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-247_en.htm

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