St-Gobain says EU fine won't change provision level

Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:59am EST
 
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PARIS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - French building materials group Saint-Gobain (SGOB.PA) will not change its provision level after being fined by European regulators for price-fixing, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"This decision won't lead us to fundamentally change our position on the issue and the level of provision," the spokeswoman said.

Four big makers of flat glass used for windows, doors and mirrors were fined 486.9 million euros ($717.2 million) by European regulators on Wednesday for illegally coordinating price rises and business conditions.

The European Commission fined privately held U.S. firm Guardian 148 million euros; Pilkington Plc, the UK unit of Japanese glass maker Nippon Sheet Glass (5202.T) 140 million euros; French producer Saint-Gobain (SGOB.PA) 133.9 million euros; and Belgian-based Glaverbel SA, a unit of Japan's Asahi Glass Co (5201.T), 65 million euros.

Last July, Saint-Gobain announced a 650 million euros ($962 million) provision related to potential antitrust fines from the European Commission.

(Reporting by Benjamin Mallet, writing by Blaise Robinson; Editing by Andrew Callus)

 
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