Pilkington loses appeal over EU cartel fine

The UK company, along with Asahi, Saint-Gobain and Soliver, was sanctioned for anti-competitive behaviour between 1998 and 2002

UK glass manufacturer Pilkington Group has lost an appeal against a €357 million European Union fine for its role in illegally fixing the price of glass used in the automotive industry.

The company, along with Asahi, Saint-Gobain and Soliver, was sanctioned for anti-competitive behaviour between 1998 and 2002. In total the four glass manufacturers were fined €1.38 billion.

The Court of Justice of the European Union rejected Pilkington’s argument that its fine was proportionally higher than the other parties because it was a less diversified company.

Pilkington also claimed that the court should have used the exchange rates on the day of the initial decision rather than from the preceding business year – this would have lowered the fine by €39.5 million.

Pilkington paid the fine in the 2009 fiscal year.