MILAN (AFX) - Italy's antitrust authority said it has fined nine companies a combined 3.7 mln eur for anti-competitive behaviour in antiseptic and disinfectant sectors, including AstraZeneca SpA with a 975,000 fine.
The authority found that the nine companies agreed to share out supplies to the public health sector in the two product markets from 1998 to 2001, the authority said in a statement.
'From the investigation, it emerged that there have been discussions in the course of meetings between the companies to share out the market, based on customer trends in the past,' it said.
New customers were shared proportionally between suppliers, it said.
In monitoring the market, the companies have also suggested forecasts for price targets in tenders to public authorities, it said.
Other companies fined were Farmec 500,000 eur, Nuova Farmec 150,000, Braun SpA 780,000, Esoform SpA 390,000, IMS Srl 390,000, P Farmaceutici SpA 185,000, Meda Pharma 225,000, and Sanitas Srl 65,000. nigel.tutt@afxnews.com nt/ra COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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