Judgment of the General Court of 16 September 2013 – Villeroy & Boch Austria and Others v Commission
(Joined Cases T-373/10, T-374/10, T-382/10 and T-402/10) 1
(Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – Bathroom fittings and fixtures markets of Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria – Decision finding an infringement of Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement – Coordination of price increases and exchange of sensitive business information – Single infringement – Attributability of the unlawful conduct – Proof – Fines – 2006 Guidelines on the method of setting fines – Non-retroactivity – Reasonable period)
Languages of the case: German, French and Dutch
Parties
Applicants: Villeroy & Boch Austria GmbH (Mondsee, Austria) (represented by: A. Reidlinger, S. Dethof, M. Klusmann and K. Blau-Hansen, lawyers) (Case T-373/10); Villeroy & Boch AG (Mettlach, Germany) (represented by: M. Klusmann, lawyer, Prof. S. Thomas) (Case T-374/10); Villeroy & Boch SAS (Paris, France) (represented by: J. Philippe, K. Blau-Hansen, lawyers, and A. Villette, Solicitor) (Case T-382/10); and Villeroy & Boch – Belgium (Brussels, Belgium) (represented by: O. Brouwer, J. Blockx and N. Lorjé, lawyers) (Case T-402/10)
Defendant: European Commission (represented by: in Case T-373/10, initially, F. Castillo de la Torre, R. Sauer, F. Ronkes Agerbeek and A. Antoniadis, and, subsequently, F. Castillo de la Torre, R. Sauer and F. Ronkes Agerbeek, Agents, assisted by G. van der Wal and M. van Heezik, lawyers; in Case T-374/10, A. Antoniadis, R. Sauer and F. Ronkes Agerbeek; in Case T-382/10, F. Castillo de la Torre, F. Ronkes Agerbeek and N. von Lingen, Agents, assisted by G. van der Wal and M. van Heezik; and, in Case T-402/10, F. Castillo de la Torre and F. Ronkes Agerbeek, assisted by G. van der Wal and M. van Heezik)
Re:
Application for annulment of Commission Decision C(2010) 4185 final of 23 June 2010 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/39092 – Bathroom Fittings and Fixtures) in so far as it concerns the applicants and, in the alternative, for reduction of the fines imposed on them.
Operative part of the judgment
The Court:
In Cases T-373/10, T-382/10 and T-402/10, dismisses the actions;
In Case T-374/10, annuls Article 1(7) of Commission Decision C(2010) 4185 final of 23 June 2010 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case COMP/39092 – Bathroom Fittings and Fixtures), in so far as it finds that Villeroy & Boch AG participated in a cartel in the bathroom fittings and fixtures sector in Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Austria before 12 October 1994;
In Case T-374/10, dismisses the action as to the remainder;
Orders Villeroy & Boch Austria GmbH, Villeroy & Boch SAS and Villeroy & Boch – Belgium to bear their own costs and to pay those incurred by the European Commission in Cases T-373/10, T-382/10 and T-402/10;
Orders Villeroy & Boch AG to bear seven eighths of its own costs and to pay seven eighths of the costs incurred by the Commission in Case T-374/10;
Orders the Commission to bear one eighth of its own costs and to pay one eighth of the costs incurred by Villeroy & Boch AG in Case T-374/10.
________________________1 OJ C 301, 6.11.2010.