Press Release: Antitrust: Commission fines producers of steel abrasives € 30.7 million in cartel settlement

On 2 April 2014, the European Commission announced that Ervin, Winoa, Metalltechnik Schmidt and Eisenwerk Würth participated in a cartel to coordinate prices for steel abrasives in Europe for over six years and has imposed fines totalling € 30 707 000.

Steel abrasives are loose steel particles used for cleaning or enhancing metal surfaces in the steel, automotive, metallurgy and petrochemical industries. They are also used for cutting hard stones such as granite and marble. Ervin 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. Since all four undertakings agreed to settle the case with the Commission, their fines were reduced by 10%.

http://ec.europa.eu/competition/cartels/legislation/leniency_legislation.html http://ec.europa.eu/competition/cartels/legislation/leniency_legislation.html

ESO: Background information: The Commission revises its Guidelines for setting fines in antitrust cases http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-commission-revises-its-guidelines-for-setting-fines-in-antitrust-cases/

ESO: Background information: Commission proposes concrete measures to deliver EU aid better and faster http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-proposes-concrete-measures-to-deliver-eu-aid-better-and-faster/

European Commission: Competition: Antitrust: Legislative initiative on Antitrust Damages Actions http://ec.europa.eu/competition/antitrust/actionsdamages/documents.html

European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/278: Introductory remarks on two cartel decisions: Power Cables and Steel Abrasives http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-278_en.htm

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