EU regulators fine baths cartel €622m

European competition watchdogs fined 17 bathroom fittings companies a total of €622m ($835m) yesterday for fixing prices, but five of them received lower penalties because of the economic crisis.

The European Commission said the companies operated a cartel between 1992 and 2004 in Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.

Ideal Standard International Group, which makes and sells American Standard bathroom ceramics and other products in Latin America, received the biggest fine at €326m. The sum was cut by 30 per cent because it cooperated with the regulator.

The cartel included Artweger, Cisal, Dornbracht, Duravit, Duscholux, Grohe, Hansa, Kludi, Mamoli, Roca, RAF, Sanitec, Teorema, Villeroy & Boch and Zucchetti.