EU antitrust regulators raid consultancy in tyre cartel investigation

BRIDGESTONE

18/06/2024 10:45

By Foo Yun Chee
       BRUSSELS, June 18 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators on
Tuesday raided a consultancy in two EU countries on concerns
that it may have breached EU cartel rules, following raids on
several major tyre makers in January, the European Commission
said.
    The Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer
did not name the consultancy.
    "The Commission is concerned that the consultancy firm may
have facilitated or instigated the suspected price coordination
amongst tyre manufacturers, which allegedly also used public
communications channels to collude," the EU executive said in a
statement.
    Pirelli  PIRC.MI , Continental  CONG.DE , Michelin
 MICP.PA , Bridgestone  5108.T  and Nokian Tyres confirmed the
EU raids in January.
    Companies found guilty of breaching EU antitrust rules face
fines as much as 10% of their global annual turnover.

 (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee)
 ((foo.yunchee@thomsonreuters.com; +32 2 585 2866; Reuters
Messaging: foo.yunchee.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))