Antitrust: Commission fines rechargeable battery producers €166 million in cartel settlement

The European Commission announced on 12 December 2016 its decision to fine Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo a total of €166 million after it concluded they had coordinated prices and exchanged sensitive information on supplies of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, in breach of EU antitrust rules.

According to the investigation, agreements on temporary price increases took place in 2004 and 2007. There were also bilateral, and sometimes multilateral, contacts in order to avoid aggressive competition in the market for lithium-ion batteries.

EurActiv, 12.12.16: EU fines Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo €166m in battery cartel case http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/eu-fines-sony-panasonic-and-sanyo-e166m-in-battery-cartel-case/

The Wall Street Journal, 12.12.16: EU Fines Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo $175 Million for Cartel http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-fines-sony-panasonic-sanyo-175-million-for-cartel-1481552584

The Japan Times, 13.12.16: EU slaps €166 million fine on Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic battery units over price cartel http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/12/13/business/corporate-business/eu-slaps-e166-million-fine-sony-sanyo-panasonic-battery-units-price-cartel/#.WE_LNX0hGy8

---