2003/207/EC: Commission Decision of 24 July 2002 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 81 of the EC Treaty (Case COMP/E-3/36.700 — Industrial and medical gases) (notified under document number C(2002) 2782)

• Articles: 5

Article 1

AGA AB, Air Liquide BV, Air Products Nederland BV, BOC Group plc, Messer Nederland BV, NV Hoek Loos, Westfalen Gassen Nederland BV have infringed Article 81(1) of the Treaty by participating in a continuing agreement and/or concerted practice in the sector of industrial and medical gases in the Netherlands.

>TABLE>

Article 2

The undertakings named in Article 1 shall immediately bring to an end the infringement referred to in Article 1, in so far as they have not already done so. They shall refrain from any act or conduct which, in object or effect, is the same as the infringement or equivalent thereto.

Article 3

>TABLE>

Article 4

The fines laid down in Article 3 shall be paid, within three months of the date of notification of this Decision, into Bank Account No 642-0029000-95 (Code SWIFT: BBVABEBB - code IBAN BE76 6420 0290 0095) of the European Commission with Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) SA, Avenue des Arts/Kunstlaan, 43, B-1040 Bruxelles/Brussels.

After expiry of that period, interest shall automatically be payable at the interest rate applied by the European Central Bank to its main refinancing operations on the first day of the month in which this Decision is adopted, plus 3,5 percentage points, namely 6,75 %.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to:

AGA AB S - 181-81 Lidingö

Air Liquide BV De Witbogt 1 5652 AG Eindhoven The Netherlands

Air Products Nederland BV Klaprozenweg 101 Noordpoort 1033 NN Amsterdam The Netherlands

BOC Group plc Chertsey Road Windlesham GU20 6HJ Surrey United Kingdom

Messer Nederland BV Middenweg 17 4782 PM Moerdijk The Netherlands

NV Hoek Loos Havenstraat 1 Postbus 78 3100 AB Schiedam The Netherlands

Westfalen Gassen Nederland BV Rigastraat 20 7415 EW Deventer The Netherlands.

This Decision shall be enforceable pursuant to Article 256 of the Treaty.

Done at Brussels, 24 July 2002.

For the Commission

Mario Monti

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ 13, 21.2.1962, p. 204/62.

(2) OJ L 148, 15.6.1999, p. 5.

(3) OJ L 354, 30.12.1998, p. 18.

(4) OJ C 78, 1.4.2003.

(5) Case IV/30.869.

(6) Press release IP (89) 426, 7 June 1989.

(7) Press release IP (89) 426, 7 June 1989.

(8) COMP/M.1630, Decision of 18.1.2000.

(9) COMP/M.1641, Decision of 9.2.2000.

(10) Business secrets have been omitted from the text.

(11) AGA has, however, been present in the Netherlands since 1917.

(12) COMP/M.1641, Decision of 9.2.2000.

(13) The name changed to Ernst & Young in 1999.

(14) Also confirmed in merger decisions M.1630 Air Liquide/BOC and M.1641 Linde/AGA.

(15) Case 30.869, see Commission press release IP(89) 426 dated 7 June 1989.

(16) Council Directive 99/36/EC on transportable pressure equipment was not adopted and published until May 1999 (OJ L 138, 1.6.1999). It was to be implemented by the Member States by July 2001 at the latest.

(17) For example, file AGA, p. 852; AL, p. 5609; HL, p. 2788.

(18) For example file AGA, pp. 290, 6755 and 1056.

(19) Also confirmed in merger decisions M.1630 Air Liquide/BOC and M.1641 Linde/AGA.

(20) The sales for the year 1996 are provided as an example. The relative importance of each undertaking's annual cylinder and bulk sales may have varied from year to year over the period of the infringement. The market share estimates are derived directly from the data submitted by the undertakings and are provided on a purely indicative basis. The market share estimates are based on the assumption that the companies in Table 1 together covered over 90 % of the Dutch market in 1996.

(21) Based on their replies to the Commission's requests for information.

(22) Index calculated by adding the squares of market shares. An HHI below 1000 indicates a dispersed market, an HHI between 1000 and 1800 indicates a moderately concentrated market, an HHI above 1800 indicates a highly concentrated market.

(23) For example, file AGA, pp. 189 and 4960.

(24) For example, file AL, pp. 2104 to 2111, 2152; AL, p. 2161; AGA, p. 368 and AP, pp. 1563 to 1565.

(25) For example, file AGA, p. 4938; BOC, p. 3614; MG, p. 7294 and AGA, p. 919.

(26) For example, file AGA, p. 4954.

(27) For example, file HL, pp. 2651 and 3041; BOC, pp. 3762 to 3772; AGA, pp. 867 and 877 and MG, p. 4814.

(28) For example, file AL, p. 2161; BOC, pp. 3762 to 3773; HL, p. 3041 and AP, pp. 1503 and 1508.

(29) For example, file AP, p. 1645 and AGA, p. 6557.

(30) File AP, p. 5964 bis.

(31) File AGA, p. 5169; AP, p. 5965 and MG, p. 5280.

(32) Examples: AL-AGA (File AL, p. 2159; AGA, p. 4987); AGA-HL (File AGA, pp. 4944, 4960, 4963 and 4972, 4988); AGA-MG (File AGA, pp. 4952 and 4961; MG, pp. 7247, 4814 and 4815) and AGA-AP (File AGA, p. 4979).

(33) File AGA, p. 782.

(34) File MG, p. 4816.

(35) File AGA, p. 5193.

(36) File AL, p. 2112 (own translation).

(37) File AL, p. 5612.

(38) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 10, point 52.

(39) File AGA, pp. 867 and 877.

(40) File AGA p. 877.

(41) File MN, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 17, point 61 and p. 18 point 62.

(42) File AL, p. 2096 (own translation).

(43) File AL, p. 5612 (own translation).

(44) File AL, p. 5612 (own translation).

(45) File AL, p. 2098 (own translation).

(46) File AL, pp. 2171 and 2172 (own translation).

(47) File AGA, p. 4964.

(48) File AP, pp. 1761 to 1762.

(49) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 10 and 11, point 53.

(50) File MN, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 18, point 63.

(51) File AGA, p. 453.

(52) File AGA, p. 4983.

(53) File AGA, p. 4990.

(54) File AP, p. 1755.

(55) File AP, p. 6336.

(56) File BOC, p. 3576.

(57) File BOC, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 9.

(58) File WF, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 8 to 10, points 42 to 52.

(59) File AGA, p. 4990.

(60) File MG, p. 4786 (own translation).

(61) File MG, p. 4833 (own translation).

(62) File MG, p. 4782 (own translation).

(63) File HL, pp. 2904 and 2905 (own translation).

(64) File HL, p. 5551.

(65) File AP, pp. 1724 and 1725.

(66) File AGA, pp. 453 and 4983.

(67) File HL, p. 2653.

(68) File AP, pp. 1724 and 1725.

(69) File MG, p. 4834.

(70) File HL, p. 5549.

(71) File HL, p. 3532.

(72) File AL, pp. 5642 and 5643; AP, p. 5965 and AGA, pp. 5169 and 5170.

(73) File AGA, p. 782.

(74) File AGA, p. 5193; see also p. 5196.

(75) File AGA, pp. 867 and 877.

(76) File MN, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 19, point 68.

(77) File AP, pp. 1761 and 1762.

(78) File AGA, p. 4983.

(79) File AGA, p. 4990.

(80) File AP, p. 1755.

(81) File AP, p. 6336.

(82) File WF, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 10 and 11, points 53 to 60.

(83) File HL, p. 2984 (own translation).

(84) File MG, p. 4833 (own translation).

(85) File MG, p. 4785 (own translation).

(86) File MG, p. 4783.

(87) File MG, p. 4782 (own translation).

(88) File AL, p. 2525 (own translation).

(89) File MG, p. 4836.

(90) File MG, p. 4834 (own translation).

(91) File MG, p. 5268.

(92) File MG, p. 5268.

(93) File AP, p. 1725.

(94) File AL, p. 2571.

(95) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 12, point 61.

(96) File AGA, p. 782.

(97) File AL, pp. 2150 to 2151 (own translation).

(98) File AGA, pp. 1003 to 1005.

(99) File HL, pp. 2655 to 2660 (partly own translation).

(100) Tetrene is a welding gas sold by AL, AGA and others.

(101) File AGA, pp. 868 to 870.

(102) File AL, pp. 2394 to 2397.

(103) File AP, pp. 1559 to 1562.

(104) File AGA, p. 887.

(105) File AL, pp. 2116 and 2117.

(106) File AL, p. 2112 (own translation).

(107) File AGA, pp. 867 and 877.

(108) File AGA, pp. 453 and 454.

(109) File AGA, p. 4983.

(110) File AGA, pp. 7011 and 7012.

(111) File AGA, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 12.

(112) File WF, p. 5224.

(113) File AL, p. 2183.

(114) File MG, p. 4779 (own translation).

(115) File AL, p. 2348.

(116) File AGA, pp. 369 and 370.

(117) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 14, points 69 and 70.

(118) File AGA, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 13.

(119) File AGA, p. 7013.

(120) File WF, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 13, points 76 and 77.

(121) File AGA, pp. 7011 and 7012.

(122) File AGA, pp. 5169 and 5170.

(123) File AP, pp. 6333 and 5965.

(124) File Indugas, p. 5717.

(125) File MG, p. 5280.

(126) File AL, pp. 5642 and 5643.

(127) File MG, pp. 7247, 7248 and 4806 to 4812.

(128) File AP, p. 1723.

(129) File AGA, p. 292.

(130) File MG, p. 4835.

(131) File AGA, p. 6995.

(132) File AP, p. 5883.

(133) File AP, pp. 1724, 1725 and 5884.

(134) File MG, p. 4834.

(135) File AGA, p. 348.

(136) File AL, p. 2572.

(137) File HL, p. 2653.

(138) File HL, p. 5549.

(139) File HL, p. 2653.

(140) File MG, p. 4779 (own translation).

(141) File AP, p. 1820.

(142) File HL, p. 2906.

(143) File AP, p. 5886.

(144) File WF, p. 7625 (own translation).

(145) File WF, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 13, point 78.

(146) File HL, pp. 2655 to 2660 (partly own translation).

(147) File MG, pp. 4814 and 4815 (own translation).

(148) File AGA, p. 453.

(149) File AGA, p. 4977.

(150) File AGA, p. 4983.

(151) File AGA, p. 453.

(152) File BOC, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 15 and 16, points 2.26 and 2.27.

(153) File AL, pp. 2348 and 2360.

(154) File HL, p. 2907.

(155) File AGA, pp. 369 and 370.

(156) File AGA, p. 363.

(157) File AGA, p. 4980, 4982.

(158) File AGA, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 6.

(159) File AGA, p. 4979 (own translation).

(160) Presumably the VFIG meeting of 23 June 1994, which took place in Utrecht and at which minimum rent and transportation prices were agreed.

(161) File MG, p. 4832.

(162) File AP, p. 1725.

(163) File MG, p. 4834.

(164) File HL, p. 2653.

(165) File AP, p. 1723.

(166) File AGA, p. 292.

(167) File MG, p. 4835.

(168) File HL, pp. 2655 to 2660 (partly own translation).

(169) File MG, pp. 4814 and 4815.

(170) File AGA, p. 453 and p. 4977.

(171) File HL, p. 2907.

(172) File AGA, pp. 4980 and 4982; see also recital 250.

(173) File AGA, pp. 369 and 370.

(174) File AGA, p. 363.

(175) File BOC, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 16 and 17.

(176) File AP, p. 1755.

(177) File MG, p. 7246.

(178) File MG, p. 7273.

(179) File WF, p. 7625 (own translation).

(180) File WF, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 11, points 62 to 64.

(181) File MG, p. 7273.

(182) File MG, p. 7211 (own translation).

(183) File MG, p. 7297.

(184) File MG, p. 7270.

(185) File AP, p. 1723.

(186) File AGA, p. 292.

(187) File MG, p. 4835.

(188) File HL, pp. 2655 to 2657.

(189) File AL, p. 2112 (own translation).

(190) File AL, p. 2096 (own translation).

(191) File AL, p. 5612 (own translation).

(192) File AP, pp. 1758 to 1760.

(193) File AL, p. 5615.

(194) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 15, point 78.

(195) File HL, p. 5554.

(196) File AGA, p. 7010.

(197) File VFIG, p. 4079.

(198) File VFIG, pp. 4082 and 4083; also in several other company files.

(199) File VFIG, p. 4093.

(200) File AP, p. 1758.

(201) File AL, p. 2171 (own translation).

(202) File AGA, p. 4964.

(203) File AGA, p. 1059.

(204) File AL, p. 5615.

(205) File AGA, p. 1063.

(206) File HL, p. 2986.

(207) File HL, p. 2996.

(208) File HL, p. 5554.

(209) File AGA, p. 453.

(210) File AL, pp. 5614 and 5615.

(211) File HL, p. 5554.

(212) File AGA, p. 7009.

(213) File WF, p. 5250.

(214) File WF, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 12, points 67 to 71.

(215) File BOC, p. 6450.

(216) File AGA, p. 782.

(217) File AL, pp. 2150 and 2151 (own translation).

(218) File AGA, p. 4983.

(219) File AGA, p. 454.

(220) File AP, p. 1723.

(221) File AGA, p. 292.

(222) File MG, p. 4835.

(223) File MN, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 24.

(224) File AGA, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 10 and 11, points 35 to 39.

(225) File AP, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 13.

(226) Joined Cases T-305/94 etc. Limburgse Vinyl Maatschappij. and Others v Commission (PVC II) [1999] ECR II-931, paragraph 715.

(227) Case 48/69 Imperial Chemical Industries v Commission [1972] ECR 619, paragraph 64.

(228) Joined Cases 40-48/73 etc. Suiker Unie and Others v Commission [1975] ECR 1663.

(229) See also Case T-7/89 Hercules Chemicals v Commission [1991] ECR II-1711, paragraph 256.

(230) See Case C-199/92 P Hüls v Commission [1999] ECR I-4287, paragraphs 158 to 166.

(231) Case T-7/89 Hercules Chemicals v Commission, paragraph 264.

(232) Joined Cases T-305/94 etc. Limburgse Vinyl Maatschappij. and Others v Commission (PVC II) [1999] ECR II-931, paragraph 696.

(233) See the judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-49/92 P Commission v Anic Partecipazioni SpA, [1999] ECR I-4125, paragraph 81.

(234) Case C-49/92 P Commission v Anic [1999] ECR I-4125, paragraph 83.

(235) File VFIG, p. 3798.

(236) File VFIG, pp. 3797 and 3798.

(237) File AGA, pp. 126 to 128.

(238) Judgment in Case T-141/94 Thyssen v Commission [1999] ECR II-347, paragraph 262.

(239) File AGA, p. 782.

(240) File AGA, p. 877.

(241) File AL, pp. 2171 and 2172 (own translation).

(242) File AP, p. 1755 (own translation).

(243) Active support is also referred to in file AGA, p. 4982 (bilateral meeting AGA-MG).

(244) File HL, p. 2984 (own translation).

(245) File AP, p. 1725.

(246) File AGA, p. 782.

(247) File HL, p. 2655.

(248) File AGA, p. 877.

(249) File AGA, p. 453.

(250) File AL, p. 2068 (own translation).

(251) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, points IV and V.

(252) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, for example, point 1.4.

(253) File WF, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 3 and 4.

(254) Judgment in Case T-142/89 Usines Gustave Boël [1995] ECR II-867, paragraph 60. Most recently confirmed by the Court of Justice in Case C-199/92P Hüls v Commission, [1999] ECR I-4287, paragraphs 155 to 168.

(255) Judgment of the Court of First Instance of 12 July 2001 in Joined Cases T-202/98, T-204/98 and T-207/98 British Sugar and others v Commission, paragraph 78.

(256) Judgment in Case T-13/89, Imperial Chemical Industries v Commission [1992] ECR II-1021, paragraph 304.

(257) See in this context the judgment of the Court in Case 45/85 Verband der Sachversicherer v Commission [1987] ECR 447, paragraph 48.

(258) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, point V.4.

(259) See, for example, file AGA, p. 4934.

(260) OJ L 319, 29.11.1974, p. 1.

(261) File AGA, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, point V, pp. 15 to 24.

(262) File HL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 5 to 9.

(263) File AP, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 20 to 21.

(264) File AL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 20 and 21.

(265) File MN, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 32.

(266) File BOC, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 18.

(267) See recital 88 and File BOC, p. 3576.

(268) BOC's external legal counsel informed the Commission services of the completion of the sale of the BOC Group's gases operations in the Benelux to Air Liquide by letter of 20 January 1999, File BOC, p. 6487.

(269) File AGA, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 4.

(270) OJ C 207, 18.7.1996, p. 4.

(271) Market of analysis cylinder gases 1990 to 1999 in the Netherlands, Annex 14 of AGA's non-confidential reply.

(272) File AGA, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, pp. 27 to 29 and File HL, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, paragraphs 35 to 37.

(273) Commission Decision of 14 October 1998, OJ L 76, 22.3.1999, p. 1.

(274) Commission Decision of 9 December 1998, OJ L 109, 27.4.1999, p. 24.

(275) Commission Decision of 18 July 2001, OJ L 265, 5.10.2001, p. 15.

(276) Commission Decision of 5 December 2001, not yet published.

(277) Commission Decision of 11 June 2002, not yet published.

(278) See recital 142.

(279) File MN, non-confidential reply to the statement of objections, p. 30.

(280) Case T-308/94 Cascades SA v Commission [1998] ECR II-925, paragraph 230.

(281) As AGA AB is held liable for its former subsidiary AGA Gas BV, the amount has been reduced to 10 % of the last turnover of the subsidiary, see footnote 20.

(282) File AGA, pp. 6987 to 7014.

(283) See AP's letter of 24.4.1998, File AP, p. 5818.