EU court upholds carbon cartel fine involving SGL
BRUSSELS, Oct 8 (Reuters) - A European Union court upheld on Wednesday a 101.5 million euro ($138.3 million) fine slapped on a group of graphite electrode makers, including SGL Carbon (SGCG.DE) and Carbone Lorraine (CBLP.PA), for taking part in a cartel.
The European Commission imposed the fine on the companies, also including Germany's Schunk and two other small firms, in 2003. They appealed, asking that the penalty be annulled or cut.
"The Court of First Instance dismisses the actions brought by those undertakings and confirms the validity of the Commission's decision both as regards the apportionment of liability and the amount of the fines," a court statement said.
The EU's executive Commission said the cartel operated in 1998-1999 in the market for carbon and graphite products, used principally to transfer electricity to and in electric motors in shavers, car windows and vacuum cleaners.
The fine on SGL Carbon was 23.7 million euros, Carbone Lorraine 43.1 million euros and Schunk 30.1 million euros. (Writing by Marcin Grajewski, editing by Dale Hudson)
