On 5 July 2012 the Federal Cartel Office imposed fines totalling 124.5 million euros against four rail manufacturers and suppliers. They had been accused of using anti-competitive agreements for various products to the detriment of Deutsche Bahn AG between 2001 and 2011. Gleiss Lutz advised voestalpine AG as the leniency applicant in the proceedings and was able to have the Austrian steelmaker’s fine drastically reduced.
The competition authority imposed a fine totalling 8.5 million euros against the two defendant subsidiaries of voestalpine AG. With fines of 103 million euros and 13 million euros, the other companies involved received significantly harsher punishment. The proceedings were among the largest and most extensive conducted by the Federal Cartel Office in recent years.
Gleiss Lutz successfully advised voestalpine AG in the proceedings and in the negotiations with the Federal Cartel Office. Its legal team was made up of Dr. Ulrich Denzel (lead, partner), Dr. Christian Steinle (partner), Dr. Carsten Klöppner, Dr. Matthias Hörster, Dr. Jennifer Hattaß (all antitrust, Stuttgart) and Dr. Tobias Holzmüller (antitrust, Munich).
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