Judgment of the General Court (Third Chamber) of 27 June 2012 --
   Berning & Söhne v Commission
   (Case T-445/07)

   Competition -- Agreements, decisions and concerted practices -- Markets
   in zip fasteners and `other fasteners' and attaching machines --
   Decision finding an infringement of Article 81 EC -- Coordinated price
   increases, fixing of minimum prices, sharing of customers and of
   markets and exchange of other business information -- Proof -- Rights
   of the defence -- Single and continuing infringement -- Time-bar --
   Fines -- Duration and gravity of the infringement -- Mitigating
   circumstances -- Equal treatment -- Proportionality

   1.                     Proceedings -- Measures of inquiry -- Hearing of
   witnesses -- Discretion of the General Court (Rules of Procedure of the
   General Court, Art. 68) (see paras 37, 38)

   2.                     Competition -- Administrative procedure --
   Statement of objections -- Necessary content -- Commission decision
   finding an infringement -- Decision not identical to the statement of
   objections -- Infringement of the rights of the defence -- Condition
   (Arts 81 EC and 82 EC; Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 27(1)) (see
   paras 47-50)

   3.                     Agreements, decisions and concerted practices --
   Agreements and concerted practices constituting a single
   infringement -- Undertakings that may be held responsible for
   participating in an overall cartel -- Criteria (Art. 81(1) EC) (see
   paras 69-72)

   4.                     Competition -- Administrative procedure --
   Time-limit with regard to proceedings -- Interruption -- Commission's
   decision to inspect -- Scope (Council Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 25(3)
   and (4)) (see paras 104, 105)

   5.                     Competition -- Administrative procedure --
   Commission decision finding an infringement -- Burden of proving the
   duration of the infringement on the Commission -- Extent of the burden
   of proof (Arts 81 EC and 82 EC) (see paras 107, 109, 110)

   6.                     Agreements, decisions and concerted practices --
   Participation in meetings having an anti-competitive object --
   Circumstances from which, where the undertaking concerned has not
   distanced itself from the decisions adopted, it may be concluded that
   it participated in the ensuing cartel -- Conduct deviating from that
   agreed within the cartel -- Not relevant (Art. 81(1) EC) (see
   paras 113-118, 130-134)

   7.                     Competition -- Administrative procedure --
   Commission decision finding an infringement -- Means of proof --
   Reliance on a body of evidence -- Degree of evidential value necessary
   as regards items of evidence viewed in isolation (Arts 81 EC and 82 EC)
   (see paras 125-129)

   8.                     Competition -- Administrative procedure --
   Commission decision finding an infringement -- Burden of proving the
   infringement and its duration on the Commission -- Probative value of
   voluntary depositions made by the main participants in a cartel with a
   view to benefiting from the Leniency Notice (Art. 81(1) EC; Commission
   Notices 96/C 207/04 and 2002/C 45/03) (see paras 135, 136, 167, 168)

   9.                     Competition -- Fines -- Amount --
   Determination -- Criteria -- Commission's margin of discretion --
   Judicial review -- Scope (Arts 81 EC and 82 EC; Council Regulation
   No 1/2003, Art. 23(2); Commission Notice 98/C 9/03) (see paras 202-206)

   10.                     Competition -- Fines -- Amount --
   Determination -- Criteria -- Gravity and duration of the
   infringement -- Matters to be assessed (Arts 81 EC and 82 EC; Council
   Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 23(2) and (3); Commission Notice 98/C 9/03)
   (see paras 207, 208, 210)

   11.                     Competition -- Fines -- Amount --
   Determination -- Criteria -- Gravity of the infringement -- Mitigating
   circumstances -- Passive or `follow-my-leader' role of the
   undertaking -- Criteria for assessment (Art. 81(1) EC; Council
   Regulation No 1/2003, Art. 23(2) and (3); Commission Notice 98/C 9/03,
   Section 3, first indent) (see paras 216, 217, 219)

   Re:

   APPLICATION for annulment of Commission Decision C(2007) 4257 final of
   19 September 2007 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 [EC] (Case
   COMP/39.168 -- PO/Hard Haberdashery: Fasteners) or, in the alternative,
   reduction of the amount of the fine imposed on the applicant by that
   decision.

   Operative part

   The Court:

   1.

   Dismisses the action;

   2.

   Orders Berning & Söhne GmbH & Co. KG to pay the costs.