General Court's Extensive Activity In Cartel Cases In July 2011

General Court partially annuls fines imposed on Japanese participants in gas insulated switchgear cartel

On 12 July 2011, the General Court ("GC") handed down its judgments in four appeals brought by addressees of the European Commission's gas insulated switchgear cartel decision. In its underlying decision, the Commission found that manufacturers of gas switchgear used to insulate electrical equipment ("GIS") had engaged in bid-rigging on the European market. According to the Commission, the cooperation of the companies was facilitated by the allocation of markets among the European and Japanese GIS manufacturers. After ruling on the first set of appeals brought by the European manufacturers in January 2011 (see VBB on Competition Law, Volume 2011, No. 3), the GC has now handed down its judgments concerning the appeals brought by the Japanese producers, i.e., Hitachi, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and Fuji.