These agreements were implemented between February 2007 and December 2014 and aimed to maintain higher sales prices, particularly in the face of the emergence of competing online distributors.
The French Competition Authority announced Thursday, December 19, sanctions for a total amount of 611 million euros for price fixing against manufacturers and distributors in the sector of manufacturing and marketing of household appliances. . The sanctioned companies are BSH, Candy Hoover, Eberhardt, Electrolux, Whirlpool (as successor to Indesit), LG, Miele, SEB, Smeg, Whirlpool, Boulanger and Fnac Darty, specifies the Competition Authority in a press release.
These agreements were implemented between February 2007 and December 2014 and aimed to maintain higher sales prices, particularly in the face of the emergence of competing online distributors, she adds. “Manufacturers communicated retail prices to distributors and monitored their correct application, not hesitating to resort to retaliatory measures (delays and stoppages of deliveries, implementation of exclusive sales systems, etc.) towards distributors who refused to comply with these price instructions.declared the body responsible for combating anti-competitive practices.
SEB will file an appeal
The French group SEB, targeted by a fine of 189.5 million euros, announced Thursday its intention to appeal against the Authority’s decision before the Paris Court of Appeal. “Groupe SEB has always acted in the interest of its customers and for the benefit of French consumers, in strict compliance with the regulations in force. It therefore categorically refutes the conclusion of the Competition Authority made against it and rejects any allegation that its practices did not comply with competition rules”he said in a press release. Fnac Darty, on the other hand, chose not to contest the sanction and will have to pay a fine of 109 million euros, he declared on Thursday.
The sanction also concerns the Swedish group Electrolux, fined 44.5 million euros. This sum is covered by an accounting provision made in 2023, the company said on Thursday. On the Paris Stock Exchange, SEB fell by 3.1% and Fnac Darty by 1.8%, while in Stockholm, Electrolux fell by 4.9%.
