01.01.70
PARIS — A French court has fined perfume giants including Chanel, Christian Dior and L'Oreal a overall of 40 million euros ($53 million) for colluding to keep prices merry.
A Paris appeals court upheld the fine imposed in 2006 by the French game watchdog, which said the companies involved had reached illicit agreements on consequence fixing, enforced by procedures to monitor prices in outlets and backed up by commercial threats for non-compliance.
Thirteen unsurpassed perfume and luxury goods companies were fined: Jean-Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Chanel, Clarins Scent Group, Hermes, Christian Dior, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Guerlain, l'Oreal, LVMH Smell Brands, Sisheido Europe and YSL.
Distributors Marionnaud, Sephora and Nocibe were also fined.
In its card ruling, which concerned events between 1997 and 2000, the price watchdog said said the companies "had arrangements with distributors... to put an end, for each output under the brand name, to any competition between retail outlets for these products".
Source: AFP