Hungary authority probes suspected TV tube cartel

BUDAPEST, May 6 (Reuters) - Hungary's competition authority has launched an anti-cartel investigation into the operation of several major cathode ray tube producers between 1995 and 2007.

The Competition Office (GVH) said in a statement on Tuesday that according to its information "the businesses coordinated their behaviour with respect to the production and distribution of cathode ray tubes ... for the European market".

The investigation concerned Samsung SDI Co. Ltd, Samsung SDI Germany GmbH (006400.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Samsung SDI Magyarorszag Zrt, Thomson TDP sp. Z.o.o. (TMS.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), LG Philips Displays Czech Republic s.r.o., and LP Displays, it said.

It also concerned Chunghwa Pictures Tubes (UK) Ltd, Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd, Daewoo Orion S.A., Daewoo Electronics Global HQ, Daewoo Electronics European HQ, MT Picture Display Germany GmbH, Matsushita Global HQ and Matsushita European HQ.

The companies were not immediately available for comment.

Cathode ray tubes are used in television sets and computer monitors. The market for them has shrunk with the advent of liquid crystal and plasma displays.

In November last year antitrust authorities in Europe and Asia raided a Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd (6752.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) unit and other cathode ray tube makers on suspicion of price-fixing.

"The European Commission is conducting an investigation in the EU market, which after Hungary's EU accession in May 2004 automatically includes the investigation of the Hungarian market," the GVH said.

"However as it is assumed that the cartel had operated prior to that (the accession) in Hungary, the GVH is authorised to examine the period prior to May 1, 2004," the watchdog said. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Stephen Weeks)