FACTBOX-EU fines heat stabilisers cartel 173 mln euros

Nov 11 (Reuters) - The European Commission fined 24
companies a total 173 million euros ($260 million) on Wednesday
for taking part in a heat stabilisers cartel.[ID:nLB168161].

Swiss group Ciba (BASF.DE), was told to pay a total of 68.4
million euros for its part in two cartels overseeing the pricing
of two forms of heat stabiliser, chemicals involved in making
PVC and packaging products more rigid.

Dutch group Akzo (AKZO.AS) was fined a total of 40.6 million
euros, the Commission said in a statement. France's Elf
Aquitaine (TOTF.PA) was fined 28.6 million.

Italian, British, Dutch and Australian firms were also
fined. A U.S. company, Chemtura, had its fine cancelled for
raising the cartel issue with the Commission.

The EU competition watchdog has issued fines of over 9
billion euros since 2004 for infringement of European cartel
laws. The following is a list of the highest fines the
Commission has imposed on companies and by sector.

TEN HIGHEST CARTEL FINES BY COMPANY (SINCE 1969)*
Year Company Case Amount in euros
2008 Saint Gobain Car glass 896,000,000
2009 E.ON Gas 553,000,000
2009 GDF Suez Gas 553,000,000
2007 ThyssenKrupp Elevators 479,669,850
2001 Hoffmann-La Roche Vitamins 462,000,000
2007 Siemens AG Gas switchgear 396,562,500
2008 Pilkington Car glass 370,000,000
2008 Sasol Ltd Candle waxes 318,200,000
2006 Eni SpA Synthetic rubber 272,250,000
2002 Lafarge SA Plasterboard 249,600,000

TEN HIGHEST CARTEL FINES BY SECTOR (SINCE 1969)
Year Case name Amount in euros
2008 Car glass 1,383,896,000
2009 Gas 1,106,000,000
2007 Elevators and escalators 992,312,200
2001 Vitamins 790,515,000
2007 Gas insulated switchgear 750,712,500
2008 Paraffin waxes 676,011,400
2006 Synthetic rubber (BR/ESBR) 519,050,000
2007 Flat glass 486,900,000
2002 Plasterboard 458,520,000
2006 Hydrogen peroxide 388,128,000

*As of July 2009 according to EU figures
(Compiled by Bate Felix; Editing by )
($1=.6802 euro)