commiss decis septemb relat proceed articl ec treati case comp brasseri kronenbourg brasseri heineken notifi document number dutch french version authent ec septemb commiss adopt decis relat proceed articl ec treati accord provis articl council regul ec commiss herewith publish name parti main content decis includ penalti impos regard legitim interest undertak protect busi interest confidenti version full text decis found authent languag case commiss work languag dg comp web site http europa eu int comm competit index en html introduct decis relat quot armistic quot agreement sale beer franc consumpt home trade sector commiss gather evid show march main breweri group franc brasseri kronenbourg sa heineken franc sa previous sogebra respect mother compani time fact group danon heineken nv conclud agreement quot acquisit war quot drink wholesal agreement concern hand acquisit drink wholesal aim bring rapid end rise cost acquir compani hand balanc integr distribut network parti concern quot armistic quot agreement implement ii summari case origin case procedur step case start basi inform provid interbrew nv inbev nv framework belgian breweri cartel case commiss decis ec decemb relat proceed pursuant articl ec treati case iv po interbrew alken mae oj basi inform commiss conduct inspect year complet investig request inform februari commiss open proceed adopt statement object brasseri kronenbourg sa heineken franc sa group danon heineken nv parti submit written repli commiss renounc hear sector concern case concern sale beer franc trade sector compani particip agreement repres approxim quarter volum beer consum franc natur infring commiss withheld infring februari heineken nv heineken franc sa announc intent acquir group fischer saint arnould group danon brasseri kronenbourg sa group fischer saint arnould distribut import volum kronenbourg beer trigger genuin acquisit war breweri group acquir larg number drink wholesal lead strong inflat acquisit price wholesal march brasseri kronenbourg sa heineken franc sa respect mother compani group danon heineken nv conclud quot armistic quot agreement acquisit wholesal balanc integr distribut network agre temporari acquisit stop prohibit proce acquisit wholesal agre list balanc total volum beer distribut network parti balanc volum beer brand commercialis parti distribut parti agreement made clear intern note group heineken group danon brasseri kronenbourg sa contest exist armistic agreement note commiss proof implement agreement contrari wholesal agre list attribut parti final acquir parti parti continu acquir wholesal agre list period parti tend supplant competitor beer beer distribut network control agreement intend ensur equilibrium brand pointless iii legal assess restrict subject quot armistic quot agreement march intend control invest heineken danon group purpos bring rapid end rise cost acquir wholesal agreement akin purpos share trade market group establish dual equilibrium mention point parti aim ensur parti domin market settl case law purpos appli articl treati account actual effect agreement appear aim prevent restrict distort competit common market agreement issu case object restrict competit requir freez acquisit establish equilibrium parti integr distribut network commiss conclud infring mean articl treati agreement produc effect appreci effect trade member state settl case law order agreement undertak affect trade member state envisag suffici degre probabl basi set object factor law fact influenc direct indirect actual potenti pattern trade member state case distribut network french breweri constitut main mean access market foreign breweri network franc circumst armistic agreement aim establish equilibrium nation level integr distribut network heineken nv heineken franc sa group danon brasseri kronenbourg sa influenc condit access trade market foreign breweri volum import interbrew franc main import beer franc depend depend distribut network heineken franc sa brasseri kronenbourg sa distribut import volum product trade market franc agreement aim restrict competit distribut network compani influenc commerci condit compani propos interbrew franc distribut product iv fine basic amount graviti infring commiss take account natur infring ii actual impact market measur iii size relev geograph market armistic agreement horizont agreement design restrict competit undertak hold larg market share agreement design bring wholesal acquisit cost control short term put end acquisit war regard clear infring par price fix agreement agreement establish longer term equilibrium breweri group distribut network concern agreement akin market share agreement involv market share quot convent quot sens agreement intend prevent group domin market elimin competit group imped parti ii agreement implement impact market iii scope geograph market commiss take account fact agreement cover mainland franc confin trade sector account total sale volum franc basi element commiss consid addresse decis commit infring articl treati durat infring agreement implement reason increas basic amount fine impos compani concern basic amount eur withheld group danon brasseri kronenbourg sa heineken nv heineken franc sa aggrav circumst group danon bsn fine market share agreement aim maintain statu quo establish equilibrium market commiss decis eec juli relat proceed articl eec treati iv agreement concert practic flat glass sector benelux countri oj recidiv aggrav circumst justifi increas basic amount fine group danon brasseri kronenbourg sa aggrav circumst retain attenu circumst attenu circumst retain final amount fine final amount fine impos undertak group danon brasseri kronenbourg sa jointli sever liabl sum eur heineken nv heineken franc sa jointli sever liabl sum eur oj