Capacitors cartel
On March 21, 2018, the European Commission fined eight Japanese manufacturers of aluminum and tantalum electrolytic capacitors approximately €254 million. The Commission’s investigation was prompted by complaints from Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. and its parent company, Panasonic Corporation. The Commission found that, between 1998 and 2012, these companies exchanged sensitive business information during multilateral meetings and bilateral or trilateral contacts regarding future prices, pricing intentions, and supply and demand information. In some cases, they even agreed on prices. While these meetings and contacts primarily occurred in Japan, the cartel’s activities were implemented globally, including within the European Economic Area (EEA).
Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation, Rubycon and Rubycon Holdings, Nichicon Corporation, and NEC Corporation lost their appeals against the European Commission’s decision. The European Court of Justice dismissed the appeals by Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation and Nichicon Corporation against the General Court’s judgments (cases C-759/21 P – Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation v. Commission and C-757/21 P – Nichicon Corporation v. Commission). Additionally, the appeal in case C-786/21 P – NEC v. Commission was removed from the register.
Cartel subject: aluminum and tantalum electrolytic capacitors (electrical components that store energy electrostatically in an electric field, and are used in a wide variety of electric and electronic products)
Cartel members: Elna, Hitachi Chemical, Holy Stone, Matsuo, NEC, Tokin, Nichicon, Nippon Chemi-Con und Rubycon
Cartel period: 26.06.1998 – 23.04.2012
Cartel region: worldwide, including EEA
Level of fines: approx. € 254 million
Affected parties: producers of any electronic products containing capacitors, including smartphones, household appliances, automotive electronic systems, and electricity-generating wind turbines
| Company | Reduction under the Leniency Notice | Fine (€) |
|---|---|---|
| SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. and Panasonic Corporation | 1,00 | 0 |
| Hitachi Chemical Electronicals Co., Ltd. und Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. | 0,35 | 18.476.000 |
| Rubycon Corporation and Rubycon Holdings Co., Ltd. | 0,3 | 28.424.000 |
| ELNA Co., Ltd. | 0,15 | 18.162.000 |
| TOKIN Corporation and NEC Corporation | 0,15 | 16.445.000 |
| Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd. | 824.000 | |
| Nichicon Corporation | 72.901.000 | |
| NIPPON CHEMI-CON Corporation | 97.921.000 | |
| Vishay Polytech Co., Ltd., Holy Stone Holdings Co., Ltd., and Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd. | 782.000 | |
| Total | 253.935.000 |
Participating ECDA member law firms
Germany | Berlin
France | Paris
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Banjaluka
Denmark | Kopenhagen
Slovenia | Ljubljana
Czech Republic | Prag
Italy | Milan
Hungary | Budapest
Austria | Vienna
United Kingdom | Birmingham
ECDA coordinator: Chrissy Lind
Phone +49(0)30 611 28 40-10
info@ecda-online.com
Postal address:
European Cartel Damage Alliance e.V. (ECDA)
Magazinstraße 15-16
10179 Berlin / Germany