EU probes Taiwan's Chi Mei in price-fixing case
TAIPEI, July 14 (Reuters) - Taiwan's No.2 LCD panel maker Chi Mei (3009.TW) on Tuesday said it received a document from the European Union as part of a broader EU investigation into price fixing by some of the world's biggest LCD makers.
"We have received the SO (statement of objections) and we're looking into it now," said a Chi Mei official, who declined to elaborate.
Chi Mei's comments follow similar moves by the European Commission against other global players, including South Korea's LG Display (034220.KS) and Dutch electronics company Philips (PHG.AS).
Crosstown rival AU Optronics (2409.TW), the world's No.3 LCD panel maker, declined to comment when asked if they had received a similar statement.
On Monday, the European Commission said it had sent statements of objections to a number of liquid-crystal display makers for suspected violation of anti-cartel rules, but did not name the companies involved.
Philips and LG Display said they had received statements from the commission regarding the issue. [ID:nLD622564]
A statement of objections is a formal step in EU anti-trust investigations through which the commission informs parties concerned about objections raised against them, although it does not prejudge the final outcome of the procedure.
AU shares were up almost 2 percent in afternoon trade, while Chi Mei was up over 1.4 percent.
The benchmark TAIEX share index was up 1.65 percent. (Reporting by Argin Chang, writing by Kelvin Soh; Editing by Chris Lewis)
