Firms slapped with Sh13b European Union fine

Philips' offices in Brussels. [File, Reuters]

Dutch group Philips and three other consumer electronics companies were fined a total 111.2 million euros (Sh13 billion) by EU antitrust regulators yesterday for imposing fixed or minimum online prices for their products.

The ruling against Philips, Asus, Pioneer and Denon & Marantz followed a 17-month investigation by the European Commission as part of its crackdown on online sales practices such as price restrictions based on a customer’s location or nationality.

The investigation, which began in February last year, was one of three that covered a total of 15 companies in the consumer electronics, video game and hotel sectors. The four companies fined on Tuesday were found to have restricted the ability of online retailers to set their own prices for products such as kitchen appliances, notebook computers and hi-fi products, insisting on fixed or minimum resale prices, the EU said.

Illegal practices

Pioneer was also found to have sought to limit the ability of its retailers to sell across borders. It engaged in illegal practices in 12 EU countries, including France, Germany, the Netherlands and Britain, the commission said, adding that the other companies did so in one or two countries.

“As a result of the actions taken by these four companies, millions of European consumers faced higher prices for kitchen appliances, hair dryers, notebook computers, headphones and many other products,” European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. Asus was fined 63.5 million euros, Philips 29.8 million euros, Pioneer 10.2 million euros and Denon & Marantz 7.7 million euros.

Pioneer and Denon could not be reached for comment outside business hours. Asus and Philips did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Ms Vestager’s action comes a week after she dished out a record 4.34 billion euro fine against Google. US President Donald Trump has previously complained of unfair treatment of American companies by the EU.

Vestager said the Google decision was not political and that if Google had a complaint it could take the commission to court.