News
The General Court of the European Union upheld the fines imposed by the European Commission on a number of companies for their participation in cartels in the international air freight forwarding services sector. However, the overall fine of EUR3.07 million, imposed initially on UTi Worldwide, is reduced to EUR2.97 million.
By decision of March 28, 2012, the European Commission imposed fines amounting in total to EUR169 million on a number of companies by reason of their participation, in periods between 2002 and 2007, in various agreements and concerted practices on the market for international air freight forwarding services. Those services included the organization of transportation of items, and could also include activities such as customs clearance, warehousing or ground services on behalf of customers according to their needs.
The commission held that the anti-competitive conduct of the companies, which agreed on the fixing of various pricing mechanisms and surcharges, gave rise to four distinct cartels.
A number of the companies including Kuehne + Nagel, Panalpina, Schenker, CEVA and UTi Worldwide had brought actions before the General Court for the annulment of the commission's decision or for a reduction in their respective fines.
As regards UTi Worldwide, the General Court recalculated the overall fine of EUR3.07 million imposed initially and decides to reduce it to EUR2.97 million. As for the other companies concerned, the court rejects all their arguments and decides to uphold the fines imposed on them.
