Press Release: Antitrust: Commission fines producers of refrigeration compressors € 161 million in fifth cartel settlement

The European Commission has settled a cartel with producers of household and commercial refrigeration compressors, used in fridges, freezers, vending machines and ice-cream coolers.

ACC, Danfoss, Embraco and Panasonic were fined a total of € 161 198 000 for operating together with Tecumseh a cartel that covered the whole European Economic Area (EEA)1 from April 2004 until October 2007 (15 November 2006 for Panasonic).

The fine includes a reduction of 10% for the companies’ acknowledgement of their participation in the cartel and their liability in respect of such participation. Tecumseh was not fined as it benefited from immunity under the 2006 Leniency Notice for revealing the existence of the cartel to the Commission.