Judgment of the Court of First Instance (Third Chamber) of 8 July 2008 – Saint-Gobain Gyproc Belgium v Commission

(Case T-50/03)

Competition – Cartels – Plasterboard market – Decision finding an infringement of Article 81 EC – Fine – Gravity and duration of the infringement – Attenuating circumstances

1.                     Competition – Agreements, decisions and concerted practices – Agreements and concerted practices constituting a single infringement (Art. 81(1) EC) (see paras 42-50, 57, 105-106)

2.                     Competition – Fines – Amount – Determination – Need to take account of the turnovers of the undertakings concerned and to ensure that fines are proportional to those turnovers – None – Need to take account of the small size or undiversified nature of the business of the undertaking concerned – None (Council Regulation No 17, Art. 15(2); Commission Notice 98/C 9/03) (see paras 83-85, 88, 93-95)

3.                     Competition – Fines – Amount – Determination – Criteria – Gravity of the infringement – Mitigating circumstances – Passive or ‘follow-my-leader’ role of the undertaking – Criteria for assessment (Council Regulation No 17, Art. 15(2); Commission Notice 98/C 9/03, point 3) (see paras 119-121,124-125)

4.                     Competition – Fines – Amount – Determination – Criteria – Gravity of the infringement – Mitigating circumstances – Termination of the infringement after the Commission’s intervention – Conditions (Council Regulation No 17, Art. 15(2); Commission Notice 98/C 9/03, point 3) (see paras 133-136)

Re:

ACTION under Articles 229 EC and 230 EC for the reduction of the fine imposed on Gyproc by Commission Decision 2005/471/EC of 27 November 2002 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] against BPB plc, Gebrüder Knauf Westdeutsche Gipswerke KG, Société Lafarge SA and Gyproc Benelux NV (Case No COMP/E‑1/37.152 – Plasterboard) (OJ 2005 L 166, p. 8)

Operative part

The Court:

1.

Dismisses the action;

2.

Orders Saint-Gobain Gyproc Belgium NV to pay the costs.