By Alex MacDonald and Nicole Lundeen
Steelmakers ArcelorMittal (MT) and Voestalpine AG (VOE.VI)
confirmed Thursday that their offices were searched by the German
Federal Cartel Office due to alleged violation of antitrust law
regarding steel deliveries to the German automotive industry.
The Federal Cartel Office said last month that it had searched
the premises of three companies in the steel industry at four
locations in the German states of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria and
North Rhine-Westphalia. The probe was carried out by 19 cartel
office officials, supported by local law enforcement officials and
included the Duisburg office of Germany's largest steelmaker
ThyssenKrupp AG (TKA.XE).
ArcelorMittal, Europe's largest steelmaker, said it has "a
strong compliance policy and we are co-operating with the relevant
authorities." The company declined further comment.
A spokesman for Austria-based specialty steelmaker Voestalpine
said the company's sales office in Munich had been searched. He
added in an emailed statement that Voestalpine supports the
investigation by the cartel office.
ThyssenKrupp last July was fined 103 million euros ($132.94
million) by the German cartel office for its involvement in a rail
pricing cartel. It is also likely that Thyssen will be sued for
damages by its customers, including German railway operator
Deutsche Bahn AG, which has previously confirmed it will seek
damages.
--Monica Houston-Waesch and Jan Hromadko contributed to this
story.
Write to Alex MacDonald at alex.macdonald@dowjones.com and
Nicole Lundeen at nicole.lundeen@dowjones.com
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