Developments In Antitrust Capacitor Investigation: Eighth Capacitor Manufacturer Charged

On October 18, 2017, a federal grand jury sitting in San Francisco indicted capacitor manufacturer Nippon Chemi-Con for participating in a multi-decade conspiracy to fix prices for electrolytic capacitors. Nippon Chemi-Con is the eighth company to be charged in the Department of Justice Antitrust Division's investigation into Sherman Act violations in the capacitor industry. Six of the seven other charged companies have pled guilty and the seventh company (Nichicon), charged by information, will make its first appearance in November. Like the other capacitor manufacturers charged in this conspiracy, Nippon Chemi-Con's case will be assigned to Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California.