commiss decis decemb relat proceed articl ec treati comp soda ash ici notifi document number english text authent text eea relev ec commiss european commun regard treati establish european commun regard council regul februari regul implement articl treati amend regul ec articl thereof regard commiss decis februari open proceed initi pursuant articl regul undertak concern opportun make view object rais commiss accord articl regul commiss regul eec juli hear provid articl regul consult advisori committe restrict practic domin posit part fact summari infring investig present decis aris investig carri commiss march pursuant articl regul premis commun produc soda ash mean investig subsequ enquiri articl regul commiss discov documentari evid show infring articl eec treati articl ec treati commit imperi chemic industri plc ici infring articl ici end ici abus domin posit held market soda ash unit kingdom appli major custom system loyalti rebat discount refer margin tonnag quot top slice quot rebat contractu arrang tend ensur effect exclus suppli ici devic object effect ty custom ici requir exclud competitor soda ash market product present procedur concern soda ash sodium carbon alkalin chemic commod raw materi manufactur glass soda ash primari sourc sodium oxid act flux glass melt process soda ash chemic industri make deterg metallurgi europ soda ash manufactur common salt limeston quot ammonia soda quot process invent solvai solvai process initi produc light ash requir stage densif produc dens form form chemic ident dens ash prefer form glass manufactur unit state call quot natur quot soda ash mine trona or deposit found wyom mine trona or purifi calcin refineri natur soda ash produc dens form natur ash found africa australia soda ash produc unit state obtain natur synthet product plant close europ entir product synthet materi reason lower salt content natur soda ash unit state suitabl manufactur glass glass produc purchas synthet ash seek mix american natur ash order achiev requir concentr produc commun produc synthet soda ash relev time solvai ici rhône poulenc akzo matth amp weber amp chemisch fabrik kalk cfk solvai largest singl produc synthet soda ash worldwid commun oper plant austria belgium franc germani itali spain portug west european market undisput market leader solvai establish quot direct national quot quot dn quot austria belgium luxembourg franc germani itali netherland portug spain switzerland handl commerci activ headquart brussel exercis supervisori coordin role ici soda ash product oper separ busi ici chemic polym divis part ici mond divis ici largest commun produc soda ash manufactur site northwich cheshir confin sale commun exclus unit kingdom ireland held unit kingdom market market worldwid worldwid demand soda ash grew annum substanti region diverg develop countri demand static date consider upturn market half soda ash produc worldwid consum glass industri world soda ash capac natur synthet million tonn nomin annum commun account million tonn solvai capac million tonn ici million tonn practic effect capac quot namepl quot capac soda ash consumpt commun million tonn annual worth eur million unit state natur ash produc total nomin capac million tonn year domest market demand million tonn natur ash product unit state million tonn unit state produc suppli home market export balanc product cost product natur ash lower synthet product mine locat princip market distribut cost correspondingli high unit state produc dens ash view european manufactur major competit threat home market exchang rate prevail late produc sell europ price substanti local market price level dump east european produc account world soda ash capac produc million tonn annual soviet union consum half product net import excess product export east european countri form light ash exist anti dump duti substanti import commun light soda ash comecon countri mark increas demand soda ash fulli sold worldwid plant run maximum output chines manufactur expect increas tonn annum product botswana south africa expect produc tonn develop consid result displac import product area commun solvai market leader total commun market sale member state unit kingdom ireland year stagnant demand mid sale soda ash western europ began increas substanti produc work full capac west european market soda ash late characteris separ nation line produc tend concentr sale member state possess product facil smaller produc cfk amp akzo increas sale quot home quot market competit solvai ici limit commun sale tradit quot sphere influenc quot continent western europ british isl ici solvai substanti export busi european oversea market suppli commun larg part ici export fact consist materi suppli solvai purpos member state solvai sole local establish produc itali portug spain virtual complet monopoli belgium solvai market share excess franc germani ici unit kingdom market altern sourc suppli unit state poland demand side main custom commun glass manufactur output west european manufactur manufactur flat hollow contain glass soda ash major cost compon glass product account raw materi batch cost glass produc oper continu process plant requir assur suppli ash case long term contract major supplier larger part requir supplier secondari sourc glass industri subject europ wide consolid larg manufactur oper pan european basi manufactur member state chemic industri soda ash consumpt metallurg applic unit state natur ash develop natur ash mine unit state market show substanti excess capac domest demand surplu million tonn annual export end suppli presenc number produc similar cost unit state domest market mark strong price competit product sold unit state substanti discount quot list quot price usd short ton fob wyom net work price end usd short ton ad transport cost rail east coast industri centr list price rais produc usd short ton effect juli effect price usd pressur export led unit state produc attempt penetr european market natur soda ash began commun late princip unit kingdom unit state import commun amount tonn tonn unit kingdom european industri successfulli appli anti dump protect unit state dens soda ash import anti dump measur forc east european import light dens ash octob measur forc late grant anti dump protect unit state dens ash involv produc market alli gener chemic texa gulf minimum price undertak gbp tonn store commiss regul eec produc market tenneco kmg fmc stauffer definit anti dump duti eur tonn council regul eec price undertak negoti provid convers currenc exchang rate prevail pariti undertak price germani franc market substanti market price sale commerci feasibl undertak unit kingdom texa gulf suffer loss volum introduct anti dump measur withdrew unit kingdom market unit state produc gener chemic suppli unit kingdom rate tonn year onward gener chemic target franc affect solvai rhone poulenc share market texa gulf sold tonnag belgium case import made free anti dump duti special rule relat quot process quot number larg commun custom glass sector intent substanti part busi commun produc bui unit state total tonn suppli continent western europ oppos unit kingdom ireland unit state produc process rule anti dump measur provid regul eec expir novemb review measur request unit state produc repres commun glassmak industri septemb review termin protect measur impos commiss decis eec unit state produc form export associ webb pommeren act approv unit state depart commerc initi activ restrict japan produc part decemb natur ash produc join form american natur soda ash corpor ansac function ansac act joint sale agenc market distribut unit state soda ash export america sale usd million annual object extend activ west european market replac sale individu produc ansac notifi arrang commiss request neg clearanc exempt articl applic ansac subject commiss decis eec exempt refus background ici posit unit kingdom soda ash market relev time ici soda ash market produc locat unit kingdom quot page quot agreement replac earlier cartel agreement recognis solvai ici compet tradit market end solvai produc continent western europ market soda ash unit kingdom ici enjoi complet monopoli suppli soda ash unit kingdom late import penetr unit state began unit state produc tgi alli activ market import reach tonn market anti dump measur adopt reduc unit state presenc tonn year tgi abandon market altern supplier ici gener chemic alli market brenntag suppli polish ash ici soda ash busi continu profit earli substanti fall demand soda ash consumpt unit kingdom drop lead close ici product unit wallerscot septemb result closur unit kingdom suppli demand balanc deficit ici bought materi solvai purchas resal quot pfr quot arrang ici declar polici maximis share unit kingdom soda ash market maintain introduct anti dump measur ici market share remain stabl ici soda ash oper return profit onward consid matur cash gener busi ici competitor reason quot major competit incurs quot commun produc consid ici list price level ici unit kingdom substanti higher produc neighbour market brief soda ash busi team leader ici quot manag reduc number competitor market poland american supplier plan quot import soda ash poland continu reach unit kingdom market trader brenntag tr intern anti dump duti dens ash eastern europ commun ash import unit kingdom subject custom duti tonn year half special metallurg grade polish import consid quot troublesom critic quot ici ici develop polici elimin suppli polish heavi ash leav import light ash sourc unit state produc natur ash consid ici main sourc potenti competit anti dump measur undertak produc anti dump duti provid ici substanti measur protect ici half profit risk anti dump protect unit state import remov ici custom ici major soda ash custom glass manufactur sector unit kingdom exclus dens ash dens ash account ici soda ash sale flat glass sector pilkington unit kingdom produc requir tonn year ici busi contain glass produc unit glass rockwar redfearn beatson clark account tonn annum dens soda ash sourc primarili exclus ici ici largest soda ash custom unit kingdom account total busi major custom light ash metallurg chemic sector anti dump measur unit state produc undertak offer alli tgi august accept commiss commiss regul eec publish ici awar minimum price undertak gbp store tgi withdrew market leav alli reorgan gener chemic unit state supplier period cover present decis gener chemic price gbp tonn store alli price rais level gbp novemb contact commiss director gener extern relat dg offici review undertaken expiri council regul eec late ici solvai awar result exchang rate movement unit state produc offer natur ash commun price competit substanti dump produc knew case price margin tonnag substanti minimum price undertak foresaw strong likelihood unit state produc make success case remov anti dump protect measur due review ici consid order maintain profit soda ash product busi current level crucial ensur anti dump measur unit state ash remain place number occas ici wrote commiss argu irrepar harm caus busi minimum price import materi gbp tonn store maintain time ici wrote commiss term march commenc present proceed recent modifi price largest custom pilkington singl price gbp tonn deliv anti dump measur unit state produc expir novemb review measur request unit state produc repres commun glass industri septemb review termin protect measur impos commiss decis eec exclus suppli agreement ici suppli agreement call quot evergreen contract quot contract run indefinit period year notic termin stipul buyer obtain requir ici negoti offic fair trade ici began octob offer unit kingdom custom rang contract option includ run contract total requir basi termin shorter notic month notic year commiss consid total requir claus short period unaccept term commun competit rule commiss object aspect ici quot competit claus quot english claus draft effect exclud possibl competit offer succe ici disput form agreement incompat competit rule agre protest ceas offer custom total requir contract termin short notic amend competit claus file close decemb formal decis ampli clear correspond ici awar polici fidel rebat underli judgment court justic european commun case hoffmann la roch commiss decemb ici wrote commiss assert custom offer rang contract option choos quot ici oblig princip custom custom accept form contract requir purchas ici total requir soda ash quantiti close offer special induc quot result discuss commiss ici amend suppli contract quot tonnag quot basi quantiti rebat soda ash sold ici deliv basi price list produc show work price intend intern ici commun custom work price ad transport rate quot haulier ici custom wish collect work collect allow part actual haulag cost standard quantiti rebat mid ici quot price book quot circular octob show scale tonnag rebat effect januari standard tonnag rebat list rang gbp tonn tonn gbp tonn annual tonn ici onward rebat quot part quot subject individu negoti exclusionari conduct ici top slice rebat spite assur special induc ici commiss onward made increas call quot top slice rebat quot gbp tonn margin tonnag major custom ici arrang place term quot top slice rebat quot mean custom offer substanti financi incent form deep discount order induc bui ici quot core quot tonnag obtain princip supplier margin tonnag quot top slice quot purchas supplier unit kingdom tr brenntag alli gener chemic exclusionari purpos top slice rebat place ici strategi top slice rebat made clear number intern memoranda date earli appar ici unit state supplier tgi intend withdraw market result quot deal quot ici offer glass industri order displac product unit state ici object ensur obtain maximum benefit tgi withdraw concern custom previous tgi sourc alli unit state supplier wors ici point view approach produc trader continent western europ refer likelihood pick tgi busi ici note februari state quot moni extend exist top slice deal quot strategi document june set explicit detail ici plan prevent elimin import dens soda ash unit kingdom except alli gener chemic ici reason quot commerci prudenc quot content remain unit kingdom market minor supplier strictli limit price volum ici object eastern european import dens ash state quot reduc current tr bag bulk special heavi ash sale minimum prevent tr establish posit bulk standard heavi ash glass produc quot strategi ici import dens ash set quot minimis alli sale level result remain sourc glass industri tonn annum prevent unit state supplier ansac establish posit unit kingdom quot pursuant plan ici polici quot compet share busi offer gbp tonn equival discount top slice tonnag core ici tonnag quot paper note time differenti ici list price unit state produc alli tgi gbp tonn origin ici expect pick major tgi busi alli sale tonn year subsequ accept major glassmak wish maintain sourc alli tonn annual paradox suit ici purpos alli remain market minim presenc price control anti dump undertak alli withdrawn complet glassmak inevit look europ altern suppli trader western europ danger market stabil memorandum novemb explain quot strategi remain price competit account deliv basi order achiev core ici tonnag offer top slice deal gbp tonn obtain increment tonnag alli object maintain alli posit tonn annual intent forc alli marketplac forc glass industri seek suppli continent western europ eastern europ quot oper top slice rebat oper effect practic top slice rebat system assess light minimum price undertak american produc ici practic secur custom agreement limit purchas competitor minimum price undertak origin minimum price undertak unit kingdom set gbp increas quot unoffici quot formal review gbp reduc gbp contact ici unit kingdom depart trade industri dti commiss director gener extern relat dg ici put price effect novemb gener chemic alli price gbp store awar perceiv breach quot unoffici quot undertak result imposit prohibit anti dump duti fact gbp tonn allow quantiti tonn gener chemic gave discount rebat list price novemb price contain glass manufactur gbp tonn work increas gbp januari pilkington price slightli offici undertak ici intern document show relationship minimum price undertak top slice rebat aim competit activ gener chemic refer price increas novemb implement major custom ici brief note observ quot alli minimum price undertak remain gbp tonn equival store price increas initi gbp tonn equival store recent erod gbp tonn equival custom redfearn ug increment tonnag deal place rebat gbp gbp tonn equival offer export assist princip beatson clark attract potenti unit state tonnag ici quot note report posit unit glass largest contain glass produc quot deal increment tonnag gbp gbp tonn equival propos continu past year ug prepar chang stanc usa quot memorandum quarterli sale meet ici soda ash product date septemb make connect explicitli quot budget addit gbp tonn rebat order ensur margin tonnag sought major bulk custom gbp tonn work gener chemic minimum price undertak quot handwritten note undat late ici put price gbp tonn read quot cut top slice gen chem follow increas top slice gbp work quot gener chemic effect prevent anti dump undertak gbp gbp quot unoffici quot undertak price ici ensur presenc marginalis oper top slice rebat system strike oper polici provid case pilkington largest custom ici aim obtain suppli posit pilkington oper unit kingdom site total soda ash requir tonn suppli ici tonn minor site pont felin pilkington quot top slice quot offtak tonn ici gave rebat gbp tonn quot top slice quot rebat costli ici term total offtak pilkington meant pont felin site ici quot deliv price gbp gbp tonn work believ gener chemic suppli price gbp deliv unoffici minimum price undertak pilkington group purchas polici depend singl produc effect pai premium gbp tonn supplier qualiti control reason pilkington mix soda ash origin produc pilkington site quot deni quot ici logic smallest view price differenti pilkington altern purchas supplier minimum ici assur vast bulk busi provid rockwar soda ash consumpt tonn year gener chemic supplier ici offer rockwar top slice rebat gbp tonn letter ici novemb intend part quot encourag minimis alli purchas quot ici employe note handwrit bottom memorandum subject date june top slice gbp store agreement restrict purchas competitor formal amend made ici suppli agreement appar ici practic made busi price negoti ascertain custom total anticip annual requir unit glass ici uncertain total consumpt detail knowledg custom total soda ash consumpt ici frame quot top slice quot rebat minimis custom purchas supplier case ici press custom successfulli give commit purchas ici year case ici secur custom agreement take substanti ici limit purchas sourc unimport tonnag pilkington text pilkington quot evergreen quot suppli agreement date april stipul quot buyer total commerci requir unit kingdom quot delet claus substitut septemb provid simpli quot quantiti sodium carbon agre annual buyer seller quot ici consid word claus relat pilkington continu govern origin agreement pilkington polici sourc ici largest site total tonn bui tonn alli small pont felin work led ici remind pilkington februari april contract refer quot buyer total requir quot quot todai realiti extrem keen make feel commerci technic barrier side part unhappi commit total requir irrevoc understand fear happi agre modif contract word flexibl desir whilst meet volum aspir quot ici ascertain pilkington total unit kingdom requir tonn quot intend purchas ici quot top slice rebat gbp tonnag ici pilkington hope mean obtain pont felin busi month period april march agreement pilkington set quot expect unit kingdom soda ash requir pilkington plc close tonn equival year intend purchas except insul divis pont felin work approxim tonn equival year quot top slice rebat pilkington time increas gbp tonn offtak tonn year note meet ici pilkington march show theme activ pursu ici rockwar rockwar origin oper work take glass produc cw novemb ici wrote rockwar confirm oral agreement reach increment tonnag tonn receiv gbp tonn rebat expressli agre work purchas quot requir ici quot bui major ici quot tonn alli quot subsequ agre tonn alli divert work ici choic languag relat rockwar purchas competitor signific number occas ici refer document rockwar quot admit quot take tonnag gener chemic curiou phrase custom free choos bui supplier rockwar acquir cw factori rockwar annual usag soda ash rose tonn tonn novemb ici rockwar agre quot suppli frame quot ascertain rockwar total requir tonn ici obtain undertak obtain quot tonn quot ici rockwar purchas supplier subject detail discuss ici specif object quot recov tonn year previous purchas pole cw factori quot end rockwar offer quot top slice quot rebat gbp tonn offtak tonn gbp tonn tonn meant margin tonnag effect cost custom offer ici gbp work meet rockwar ration minor supplier keep gener chemic sourc assur brenntag novemb chang purchas polici middl receiv adequ notic chang result ici offer rockwar agre ici ceas polish purchas gener chemic volum constant tonn commerci director ici soda ash product wrote note congratul unit kingdom sale manag quot snaffl quot polish share cw brenntag inform rockwar decis maintain expect continu suppli tonnag deliveri ash brenntag continu month ici met rockwar februari ici note meet record quot polish purchas ceas todai quot fact occur rockwar wrote brenntag march confirm instruct week previous ceas place order brenntag march rockwar continu busi brenntag ici involv quot penalti cost quot gbp gbp letter brenntag read quot fulli realis posit place understand commerci offer receiv imposs refus quot ici claim gener chemic gain tonnag previous suppli brenntag cw fact gener chemic made special offer rockwar obtain cw busi cw prior takeov cw glasswork rockwar ici main supplier cw secondari sourc alli tr brenntag attempt made ici ensur purchas compet supplier limit ici obtain undertak cw quot intend restrict offtak unit state soda ash maximum tonn quot promis albeit vagu obtain cw reduc purchas polish ash tr stood tonn year redfearn custom redfearn ici quot irrevoc commit mainten competit pressur quot take tonnag alli ici made point ascertain redfearn total requir year make arrang involv quot top slice quot rebat restrict purchas supplier tonn year agre quot rng intend purchas tonn soda ash ici total budget purchas tonn addit volum possibl requir budget total purchas quot arrang provid redfearn purchas ici tonn total expect usag tonn requir ad induc purchas margin tonnag ici form gbp rebat similar arrang made beatson clark quot top slice quot rebat system ici gave form rebat allow glassmak includ quot export support quot rebat quot import substitut quot rebat rebat subject present proceed case beatson clark made clear custom ici onward top slice rebat special allow depend custom place busi ici year ici wrote beatson clark confirm quot intend purchas total requir ici assumpt tonn equival consid offer support quot ici note meet beatson clark relat negoti report quot made clear offer busi purchas manag beatson clark equal made clear prepar commit busi competit bargain tool complet line quot note author report emphas beatson clark quot reward aspect place busi ici quot ici fact sole supplier soda ash beatson clark date investig investig present case carri ici abandon practic quot top slice quot rebat insist modif price arrang sens involv admiss rebat question constitut infring articl ici document show awar rebat system question legal note head quot issu object quot read quot legal top slice altern quot ici princip factual argument ici deni gener strategi exclud supplier supplier market quot top slice quot rebat motiv exclusionari intent ici intend quot encourag support growth quot inevit relat quantiti custom nomin quot core quot tonnag ici argu conceiv respons custom demand chang rebat structur negoti individu basi pursuant plan ici point continu presenc gener chemic market proof intend elimin competit ici claim oblig give quot top slice quot rebat case rockwar reason alli gener chemic assess defenc argument ici assert top slice rebat part exclusionari plan direct contradict intern document made clear intent exclud tr brenntag supplier dens light ash recit gener chemic alleg commiss ici intend elimin produc object ensur sourc suppli remain market sold price quantiti pose real competit threat domin posit recit suggest rebat system develop haphazard difficult reconcil ici document memorandum state addit gbp financ top slice rebat quot order ensur margin tonnag sought bulk custom gbp tonn work gener chemic minimum price undertak quot recit relat claim ici react competit alli evid support assert indic novemb ici led gener chemic offer quot deep top slice quot rockwar view pick polish share cw busi recit offer gener chemic quot produc averag price close gbp tonn equival store quot case occas gener chemic offer special price rockwar ici appear fact mistaken point provid explan ici gener polici give topslic rebat quot major bulk custom quot year prior date ici claim gener chemic offer special price rockwar document believ gener chemic price gbp tonn store singl case rockwar ici explain gener chemic averag price rockwar gbp give top slice rebat result effect price tonn rockwar ici gbp tonn fact alli successor gener chemic offer special quot top slice quot rebat rockwar custom novemb list price gbp work contain glass manufactur gave discount list price commiss consid rational strategi give quot top slice quot rebat explain detail ici document part ii legal assess articl treati term articl articl abus undertak domin posit common market substanti part thereof prohibit incompat common market affect trade member state special rebat financi induc grant custom domin undertak order secur substanti part busi prohibit articl exclusionari practic present case essenti question decid ici held domin posit mean articl conduct alleg constitut abus domin posit appreci effect trade member state domin posit definit term quot domin posit quot defin articl court justic domin posit articl posit econom strength enjoi undertak enabl hinder mainten effect competit relev market allow behav appreci extent independ competitor custom ultim consum posit preclud competit enabl undertak profit determin appreci influenc condit competit develop case act larg disregard long conduct act detriment judgment case hoffmann la roch commiss point quot domin quot power hinder effect competit power involv abil elimin weaken exist competit prevent potenti competitor enter market court state exist domin posit requir produc enjoi elimin possibl competit case unit brand commiss point exist domin posit depend combin factor necessarili control relev market order determin undertak hold domin posit identifi area busi condit competit market power allegedli domin undertak fall assess examin enabl commiss identifi actual potenti competitor undertak question constraint exist exercis suppos market power account natur abus alleg manner competit impair case question judgment case hugin commiss present case abus suspect concern foreclosur ici actual potenti competit supplier soda ash ici produc light dens soda ash glassmak consum dens ash chemic metallurg applic light ash prefer form competit ici aim exclud princip dens ash artifici draw strict boundari line light dens ash ici major light ash custom switch dens ash capit outlai subject quot top slice quot rebat system relev product market ici market power abil exclud competitor fall assess fairli includ light dens soda ash purpos assess ici market power commun divid broad zone quot sphere influenc quot domin solvai ici condit unit kingdom reason set earlier homogen separ prevail member state ici sole nation produc solvai western european produc market product quot home quot territori ici import custom commun locat unit kingdom product geograph area ici econom power fall assess market soda ash unit kingdom unit kingdom quot substanti part common market quot mean articl market power ici document recognis held domin posit unit kingdom histor market share period consider strong evid signific degre market power market share import indic exist domin posit infer signific vari case case characterist market question assess market power purpos present case commiss account relev econom evid includ element persist year ici monopoli unit kingdom ii absenc competit solvai western european produc iii improb quot quot produc synthet soda ash enter market set manufactur facil commun iv ici posit exclus exclus supplier major custom percept custom gener chemic brenntag secondari supplier vi protect unit state eastern european produc afford anti dump measur vii price constraint impos gener chemic anti dump undertak viii ici demonstr abil year maintain higher price level member state ix quot interdepend quot major custom ici share percept commun interest success ici strategi minimis presenc effect gener chemic brenntag competitor maintain predomin market share unit kingdom assess ici market power commiss account substitut caustic soda soda ash vice versa caustic soda sodium hydroxid larg product paper aluminium theori replac soda ash manufactur applic sourc alkali manufactur deterg metallurg process revers true soda ash theori altern caustic soda process practic avail caustic soda constitut substanti limit ici market power unit kingdom princip base suppli glass manufactur caustic soda prefer soda ash caustic soda product manufactur chlorin basic raw materi manufactur pvc long term storag feasibl product chlorin tailor current pvc demand suppli caustic soda inevit fluctuat line chlorin demand caustic soda hand depend larg requir paper industri price caustic soda unlik soda ash subject consider fluctuat relev time caustic soda quot short quot growth demand caustic soda exceed chlorin product short suppli remain indefinit period consider expens equival soda ash incent soda ash user switch caustic soda convers soda ash caustic requir substanti capit invest caustic soda quot long quot time cyclic natur market uncertainti futur price act deterr switch glass sector main consum soda ash caustic soda substitut metallurg deterg applic theori alkali requir glassmak provid caustic soda capit invest plant modif requir practic unit kingdom glassmak convert caustic soda note major soda ash produc solvai ici akzo made caustic soda produc commun unit kingdom ici lead produc caustic soda ici argu avail cullet recycl broken glass exclud domin posit custom requir soda ash glass contain manufactur reduc cullet technolog proport higher cullet usag lessen depend custom soda ash supplier gener lessen abil power soda ash produc exclud smaller produc product possibl substitut act constraint exercis ici market power vi vi produc soda ash basi consider commiss conclud materi time ici occupi domin posit sens articl abus domin posit court justic observ case conduct domin undertak undermin object articl ec treati articl eec treati endang structur competit constitut infring articl exclusionari behaviour hinder exist competit develop competit condemn court practic design block access competitor custom ty domin supplier identifi abus lead case case suiker uni commiss case hoffmann la roch commiss case nederlandsch banden industri michelin commiss decis eec british gypsum bpb industri present case concern ty custom ici mean number devic serv exclusionari purpos quot top slice quot rebat exclus requir claus case make financi benefit depend custom take total requir ici quot top slice rebat quot obviou natur system term ici intern document quot top slice quot rebat intend exclud effect competit induc custom obtain ici margin tonnag obtain supplier minimis neutralis competit impact gener chemic presenc market term price tonnag custom limit insur continu ici effect monopoli elimin brenntag market minimis competit effect minimis risk custom turn altern sourc suppli sister produc trader commun produc maintain reinforc ici virtual monopoli unit kingdom market soda ash substanti variat quot trigger quot tonnag rebat activ custom demonstr top slice rebat system price advantag confer depend differ cost ici relat quantiti suppli custom take margin tonnag ici order practic fall articl legal oblig express stipul requir custom obtain suppli exclus domin firm suffici object result induc offer tie custom domin produc ii exclus requir claus restrict purchas competitor establish law domin undertak ti custom request oblig promis obtain substanti requir exclus undertak constitut infring articl hoffmann la roch commiss paragraph irrelev oblig question stipul qualif undertaken consider grant rebat anti competit effect stipul quantiti ici suppli agreement assess light ici state polici gener chemic brenntag document discov ici show ici concern exclud competitor ici interest ensur gener chemic remain unit kingdom market quot presenc quot strictli control price tonnag met larg custom secondari supplier fact present real competit threat ici monopoli posit make busi ascertain total requir major custom ici structur quot top slice quot rebat system exclud minimis presenc competitor case assur obtain custom reduc competit purchas restrict tonnag case beatson clark expressli stipul custom obtain total requir ici arrang substanti restrict contractu freedom custom prevent competit entri tantamount exclus claus agreement major custom meant ti ici substanti requir case total requir competit effect supplier minimis iii financi induc deal beatson clark ici made clear quot support packag quot addit quot top slice quot rebat depend agre requir ici condit confirm write special quot induc quot object effect reinforc ici posit custom exclud competit measur recit intend remov restrict opportun produc supplier soda ash compet ici light ici express strategi retain virtual complet monopoli unit kingdom market consolid domin posit ici manner incompat concept competit inher articl rebat reflect differ cost base tonnag suppli refer secur largest percentag custom requir quot top slice quot rebat system involv consider variat custom custom quot trigger quot tonnag activ differ amount tonn rebat vari gbp tonn gbp effect trade member state articl cover abus directli prejudic consum indirectli prejudic impair effect competit structur common market envisag articl measur ici ensur continu domin posit effect monopoli unit kingdom aim place direct competit commun unit state poland commun produc quot top slice quot rebat exclusionari devic examin context phenomenon strict separ nation market commun ici document stress commerci strategi call continu limit presenc unit kingdom market singl american produc quot supplier quot ici control anti dump measur ici anxiou gener chemic remain unit kingdom quot altern quot left market custom encourag altern possibl cheaper sourc suppli continent western europ fact competit conduct ici direct commun exclud appreci effect trade member state mainten reinforc ici domin posit unit kingdom affect structur competit common market ensur statu quo base mark separ maintain articl regul articl regul commiss decis impos undertak fine eur eur million sum excess thereof exceed turnov preced busi year undertak particip infring intention neglig infring articl fix amount fine regard graviti durat infring graviti present case commiss consid infring articl graviti part deliber polici aim consolid ici control unit kingdom soda ash market manner fundament conflict basic object treati specif direct restrict damag busi competitor foreclos long time sale opportun competitor ici caus last damag structur market concern detriment consum ici awar extens negoti commiss requir articl introduct top slice rebat long specif assur commiss ici offer special induc custom quantiti close requir soda ash ici ici subject previou occas substanti fine impos commiss collus arrang chemic industri dyestuff polypropylen pvc durat infring began shortli negoti commiss closur commiss file continu end commiss take account fact ici abandon system top slice rebat effect januari proceed court instanc court justic decemb commiss adopt decis eec present case pursuant articl eec treati find infring commit ici impos fine eur million decis notifi undertak regist letter march ici appli court instanc annul decis april ici lodg supplement applic put forward plea law effect decis declar exist judgment court instanc februari join case basf commiss court justic rule commiss appeal judgment june case commiss basf annul decis ground commiss compli articl version rule procedur forc time requir decis authent authent languag version signatur presid secretari gener judgment june case ici commiss decis eec adopt present case decemb court instanc held plea ici admiss found text contest decis authent notifi annul decis infring essenti procedur requir mean articl treati amend articl commiss appeal court justic judgment court justic dismiss commiss appeal judgment april case court instanc held join case lvm commiss quot pvc ii quot commiss entitl adopt decis annul pure procedur defect decis circumst adopt conduct fresh administr procedur commiss requir hold oral hear text decis object set origin decis right defenc undertak concern infring decis adopt reason time court instanc confirm commiss interpret council regul eec novemb limit period proceed enforc sanction rule european econom commun relat transport competit regul eec power commiss impos fine substant infring rule competit subject limit period year case continu repeat infring time begin run dai infring ceas present case decemb articl regul eec action commiss purpos preliminari investig proceed respect infring interrupt limit period proceed limit period interrupt time start run afresh interrupt imposit fine definit time bar dai period equal limit period elaps commiss impos fine year date violat ceas articl regul eec identifi action commiss interrupt limit period includ notif statement object list exhaust court instanc left open question adopt annul decis constitut action interrupt limit notif statement object ici action start time run articl commiss march adopt decis time limit extend period proceed decis pend court articl regul eec limit period proceed suspend long decis commiss subject proceed pend court justic purpos includ court instanc court instanc state point pvc ii judgment articl specif intend appli case decis find infring impos fine annul limit period suspend long decis eec subject proceed pend court instanc court justic present case ici applic lodg court instanc judgment deliv june commiss appeal court justic file august final judgment render april time elaps judgment court instanc court justic seiz appeal disregard limit period suspend minimum period year month dai period suspens ad time limit expir march commiss end adopt annul decis adopt decis articl imperi chemic industri plc ici infring articl eec treati articl ec treati end conduct aim exclud sever limit competit consist grant substanti rebat financi induc refer margin tonnag order ensur custom bui requir ici secur agreement custom bui substanti requir ici restrict purchas competit materi tonnag case make grant rebat financi benefit depend custom agre bui requir ici articl fine eur million impos ici respect infring articl fine impos paid month date notif decis bank account account european commiss banco bilbao vizcaya argentaria bbva swift code bbvabebb iban code avenu de art kunstlaan brussel expiri period interest automat payabl interest rate appli european central bank main refinanc oper work dai month decis adopt percentag point articl decis address imperi chemic industri plc millbank london sw jf unit kingdom decis enforc pursuant articl treati brussel decemb commiss mario monti member commiss oj oj oj oj oj oj oj major custom ici primari sourc unit state polish produc supplier oj oj oj ecr ecr ecr ecr ecr oj compat ici quot support packag quot import substitut export assist articl articl subject present proceed purpos present case commiss confin linkag packag custom total requir ecr ii ecr ecr ii ecr ii oj