commiss decis august relat proceed articl eec treati iv zinc produc group dutch english french german text authent eec commiss european commun regard treati establish european econom commun regard council regul februari regul implement articl treati amend act access greec articl thereof regard commiss decis juli initi proceed case undertak concern opportun make view object rais commiss pursuant articl regul commiss regul eec juli hear provid articl council regul consult advisori committe restrict practic domin posit fact undertak undertak decis concern zinc produc billiton nederland bv billiton regist offic hagu januari billiton acquir sharehold kempensch zinkmaatschappig kzm march remain kzm billiton held half share budel netherland smelt plant budelco bv budel half own australian oversea smelt pty ao subsidiari australian mine smelt europ ams point metallgesellschaft ag mg regist offic frankfurt main société minièr métallurgi de penarroya sa penarroya regist offic pari own major sharehold italian compani pertusola sud preussag ag pag regist offic berlin hanov rio tinto zinc corpor plc rtz regist offic london rtz relev period sharehold compani cr regist offic victoria australia act hold compani australian mine smelt amp hold compani regist offic melbourn australia isc compani regist offic london cra compani regist offic melbourn australia australian oversea smelt pty ao amp europ ams subsidiari amp ao stake budelco bv point ams amp hold compani activ rtz group european zinc market commonwealth smelt csl subsidiari ams regist offic avonmouth unit kingdom union minièr sa um regist offic brussel parent compani métallurgi hoboken overpelt sa mho société prayon sp wound compagni royal asturienn de mine cram société vieill montagn vm addit relev period um major sharehold société générale de minerai sgm wholli own subsidiari acquir um period previous independ compani product market raw materi zinc product upgrad zinc or zinc concentr suppli mine compani smelter or miner zinc smelt process extract primari zinc zinc metal concentr extract metal vari degre puriti good ordinari brand gob zinc pure special high grade zinc zinc metal secondari zinc obtain process zinc dust zinc ash zinc scrap recycl zinc bear materi kind zinc metal process semi finish finish product alloi metal applic zinc replac aluminium plastic world product zinc tonn commun product tonn import zinc produc commun order product capac actual product figur round tonn group capac product um includ mho cram vm mg pag penarroya includ pertusola rtz subsidiari billiton budel product figur necessarili repres sale market weak zinc output stockpil major zinc produc locat soviet union output tonn japan output tonn unit state canada australia commun zinc produc share world product steadi japan eastern bloc countri increas share period zinc smelter integr zinc mine zinc processor compani concern case penarroya um rtz relev period integr mine integr mine suppli smelter or requir european zinc industri depend suppli mine commun zinc export countri canada peru australia sweden zinc or commun import smelter um mg integr processor suppli zinc concentr smelter metal processor subject long term contract mine smelter smelter processor contract price mine receiv zinc concentr ti zinc metal price minu treatment smelt charg percentag zinc metal price metal price applic long term suppli contract concentr metal zinc metal price quot london metal exchang lme price determin daili lme suppli demand match intent buyer seller daili fluctuat lme zinc price quotat made price payabl long term contract uncertain event increas lme price caus specul danger consum switch cheaper substitut materi end individu zinc produc set zinc price transpar market larg ident market condit price scarc differ long produc offici announc zinc price publish metal bulletin produc price march price gob zinc tonn zinc industri depress state recent year rise zinc price autumn brought improv situat world zinc market monitor unit nation zinc studi group industri member state commiss repres zinc studi group analyz market data product demand price pass result industri recommend cours action normal trade associ entitl competit law commun zinc produc form comité de liaison repres industri vi vi commiss european commun discuss industri polici commiss offici natur involv meet bodi agreement juli undertak juli major western zinc mine smelt compani japan includ um mg pag penarroya rtz agre form zinc produc group zpg initi form group canadian anglo australian zinc compani whilst continent european compani join hesit agreement member zpg introduc common zinc produc price substitut price lme price suppli contract zinc mine zinc consum zinc produc price initi set object reduc ultim price quot lme time support produc price member zpg agre stop sell zinc lme processor custom offer zinc sale lme support lme price intervent bui fell put cash curtail product agre level produc agre sell zinc bona fide custom consumpt forbid resel curtail sale agre level arrang agre organ manag zpg subsequ form meet committe set collect market data monitor trend final zpg member agre number lead announc produc price follow suit rtz minut zinc contact committe held london juli appendic implement agreement juli zpg met occas meet agre produc price manner announc price leader action support zinc price restrict zinc product includ control invest sale produc price agre juli chang time period produc group govern bodi steer committe remind member occas juli agreement exhort abid agreement zpg publish paper entitl zinc produc price basi term definit revis summar main element agreement year composit number zpg membership vari meet septemb budelco bv join zpg meet novemb zpg formal dissolv instig rtz fear repercuss british restrict trade practic legisl group resum meet march virtual unchang form rtz repres continu attend implement price agreement autumn juli onward zpg member incorpor current agre produc price suppli contract mine compani zinc consum arrang publish london metal bulletin zinc produc price basi agre acknowledg refer price contract minut zpg meet septemb member zpg larg observ produc price outbreak discount prompt zpg occas call greater price disciplin member rtz cabl june onward discount frequent oversuppli produc price consider quot lme mg discuss paper octob result discuss paper produc price introduc time lost stabil effect minut mg manag board meet held felt dai produc price number um subsidiari sp thought produc price maintain cost minut mg manag board meet held june mg board meet juli expect full produc price establish market end septemb ams difficulti stem gap lme price produc price telex date juli recommend produc price system defend cessat discount narrow gap lme produc price continu produc price system drastic coordin product cut zpg member albeit illeg telex ams august collus price autumn evid produc price agre zpg meet mg discuss paper octob state agre produc price provid optimum solut problem zinc market year consid time pattern european price leadership establish initi mg restor order zinc market mg ahead chang zinc price octob dai firm concern case suit price announc mg publish metal bulletin novemb produc price minut mg manag board meet held novemb note price leadership european firm emerg work paper mg supervisori board meet novemb remark similar vein price leadership role mg assum recent week futur exercis european case past mg note date decemb talk canadian zinc produc cominco welcom european price leadership mg recommend faster commun trade journal minut mg manag board meet januari report felt time mg initi reduct produc price telex ams rtz februari subject ams expect reduct produc price end week billiton lead german ams telex februari ams understood billiton defer decis comité de liaison meet extent result consider posit immedi comité de liaison meet begin februari zinc price uniformli reduc firm concern tonn price held august april ams want higher produc price telex date april ams move increas price suffici follow induc metal bulletin publish price regrett telex chanc success move reced significantli german dutch belgian produc happi current produc price minut mg manag board meet june report announc european smelter need increas produc price august firm concern rais zinc price level tonn mg note august similar simultan price firm concern place octob januari ams telex januari parallel part produc move metal bulletin octob report good dai hour earlier week zinc produc post ton end thursdai vm asturienn penarroya preussag metallgesellschaft fridai move announc ams billiton memorandum date april relat april billiton repres met german french north american zinc produc dai discuss futur european produc price memorandum felt initi price increas time integr zinc produc billiton recommend billiton announc price increas price publish metal bulletin ii support produc price joint action influenc lme collect abstent sell onward zpg member stop sell zinc lme agreement laps end zpg effect show minut mg manag board meet held februari negoti zinc produc mg advoc offload surplu zinc lme agreement sell lme led major reduct stock handl virtual lower qualiti zinc eastern bloc countri billiton note date june support bui subsidiari collect abstent sale zinc lme hand hand joint bui exchang time regul suppli support exchang price aa merafin zpg meet held septemb member agre swiss compani engag support bui lme financ member contribut tonn zinc product summer firm concern case paid contribut compani merafin sa directli indirectli subsidiari own acquir merafin made appear zinc buyer lme june repeatedli engag support bui novemb zinc bought lme sold compani european commun peopl republ china merafin report june meet zpg held novemb decid wind merafin turnov swf million form swiss compani adena metal sa capit swf million bb adena adena metal sa set zuerich januari agreement sign april inter alia rtz um billiton mg pag penarroya undertook subscrib share adena direct compani adena turn sign agreement compani call cassamet sa zuerich cassamet bui zinc lme adena behalf adena carri zinc bui lme zpg instruct order zinc price level zpg desir juli middl adena resold zinc purchas commun north america adena document date june march zpg decid wind adena remain asset subsequ distribut sharehold member zpg includ firm concern final account adena cassamet submit march coordin individu bui zinc lme produc zpg meet novemb group decid set market advisori committe fix amount quota zinc member bui lme bui zinc lme member option limit product line quota transfer equival tonnag product stock place market undat steer committe paper cover period decemb februari firm decis concern mg billiton rtz chose bui option um penarroya pag cut option agre firm choos cut output justifi public fall sale minut zpg meet held novemb put chosen option effect firm decis follow advic market advisori committe ams memorandum novemb reason zpg decis summar ams memorandum date januari novemb fear free price zinc slide put pressur european produc price coordin zinc bui lme agre firm concern occas minut zpg meet februari um memorandum march um telex april ams note januari april novemb juli zpg withdrew tonn zinc european market support produc price memorandum juli period juli octob member agre bui tonn european zinc market billiton um pag penarroya agre bui tonn north korean zinc reach lme put european market memorandum date decemb firm montanor bv carri bui oper result action period decemb march lme month zinc price rose posit benefici effect price realiz european produc mark improv price produc order tonn total produc sale curtail zinc product invest agre zpg meet juli zpg member subsequ enter implement agreement curtail zinc output purpos product cut obtain plan reduct suppli remov temptat zpg member surplu zinc sold produc price offer sale lme directli zinc consum caus lme price fall endang produc price product cut object effect prevent surplu zinc sold home market area influenc zpg member lower price produc free curtail output stockpil equival amount product rtz document date agreement actual restrict product made refer product tonnag individu firm decid full zpg meet zpg document septemb june produc agre build zinc product capac inform zpg undertook submit product figur tonn zinc produc full zpg meet approv time agre make board cut product appendix minut zpg meet output limit agreement made firm concern board reduct penarroya note octob octob zpg announc product quota observ firm concern refer product tonnag allot penarroya pertusola tonn allot rtz ams tonn ams memorandum date august longer evid output limit agreement made framework zpg meet telex ams april show inform forthcom product cut exchang zinc produc minut mg manag board meet septemb predict bind agreement product cut meet zinc studi group point recommend minut mg manag board meet held februari reveal mg pag exchang inform zinc product plan iii agreement share market market zinc produc decid juli regul european wider world zinc market knew produc price made stick joint action influenc lme agreement product restrict link chain need protect produc tradit sale territori case penetr market compet price spell end produc price system rtz memorandum date octob zinc produc set stop tradit trade flow member state exist belgium franc germani basi restrict unlik measur agreement zpg member restrict sale home market rule adopt full zpg meet tend made fring meet zpg organ regul world zinc market concern region market european commun protect german market gener discuss posit european german zinc market refer import restraint held zpg meet june subsequ meet place individu firm agre import restrict june belgian german zinc produc vm mg pag met avoid unnecessari competit german zinc market rtz memorandum date june meet cologn novemb pag mg hand vm mho sp cram penarroya billiton budel hand quota agre zinc export franc belgium netherland germani made clear bulk countri zinc requir suppli german produc quota arrang renew firm april pag memoranda march april um memorandum import quota german market agre firm august pag memorandum august vm respons monitor complianc arrang firm concern pass export figur vm pag mg german import statist discrep set figur evid addit export quota allot french belgian dutch produc vm made enquiri find telex date septemb march novemb mg um august juli talk place billiton mg sale limit billiton germani billiton promis observ restraint german market septemb repres billiton kzm mg pag penarroya um meet agre quota gob zinc import germani total tonn billiton memorandum septemb talk import restrict place firm june decemb restrict agre billiton kzm penarroya um similar talk contact sale restrict germani pag mg ams march august decemb agre pag ams ams limit zinc sale germani possibl basi exchang share german market tie raw materi septemb firm concern agre estim sale zinc germani period septemb decemb ams memorandum octob separ talk pag mg ams agre contact develop german zinc market ams note date august pag mg oppos allow ams enter german market um memorandum august ams purpos talk give notic desir start sell german market previous agreement mg isc sell zinc germani talk ams mg pag led agreement german firm limit sale british market ams telex pag date decemb begin februari ams enquir possibl sell zinc germani billiton quota mg told ams past agre isc germani mg british market ams began sell germani mg threaten counter measur unit kingdom mg memorandum date februari octob ams told mg begin sell germani cautious compet price act disrupt influenc german market mg note octob talk zinc sale german market place mg ams billiton march april mg minut april pag ams octob novemb talk pag reportedli express concern billiton oper german market ams note date novemb market share billiton rtz billiton rtz cra enter joint ventur involv budelco smelter budel netherland head agreement parent compani sign divid commun market claus set quota sale respect area influenc claus countri member eec belong billiton area influenc head agreement review meet billiton ams successor cra held decemb februari april confirm point open european contin ams case billiton report date februari conflict market agreement commun zinc produc billiton billiton final bow increas pressur ams sell zinc contin august billiton ams agre ams sell tonn zinc month fourth quarter tonn month contin billiton tonn produc price juli billiton ams agre amend head agreement allow ams limit access continent market subject sale quota billiton acknowledg ams seek market quota contin produc ams memorandum juli august billiton ams held talk give ams part tonn quota billiton alloc european zinc produc franc ams memorandum septemb billiton allow ams sell tonn germani chargeabl billiton quota tonn ams suppli custom custom billiton note file billiton metal gmbh date januari agreement larg carri ams memorandum date octob octob billiton ams agre firm jointli negoti continent produc increas export quota ams document entitl market continent europ date octob billiton compil list custom bar ams suppli suppli ams ams turn allow billiton suppli state zinc consum unit kingdom view restrict access french german market telex februari ams memorandum negoti billiton ams quota zinc sale commun occur document contact firm mutual sale restraint discuss place april billiton note case market share firm concern decis parti quota agreement restrict zinc shipment commun countri ams note ams telex june evid refer point ams make increas effort sell zinc commun countri found oblig open discuss continent european produc obtain consent enter market ams note juli talk duli place um pennarroya gave consent grudgingli penarroya told ams intend sell zinc unit kingdom avoid disturb british market ams memorandum januari februari ams penarroya discuss possibl sell tonn home market talk ams penarroya um sale zinc ams franc belgium document ams paper date juli august um paper record talk date august memorandum date august contact ams penarroya um pag mg billiton zinc sale contin ams continu mg memorandum februari ams memorandum januari oj oj ecr stigler kinki oligopoli demand curv rigid price journal polit economi vol lv ecr ecr ecr oj octob novemb ams contact billiton pag penarroya propos sale zinc unit kingdom pag penarroya reportedli complain billiton ams sale home market effect agreement agreement actual applic produc price admittedli dampen errat fluctuat lme quot zinc price mitig effect mine smelter consum hand agre produc price involv disadvantag firm integr mine compani zinc processor vulner effect price diverg market level earli septemb european custom smelter complain heavi burden impos custom smelter mainten produc price system advers market condit time coupl sever restrict smelter output zpg memorandum date septemb zinc consum larg unabl escap high produc price bui lme lme price manipul reduct suppli reflect true market price quantiti zinc trade lme small qualiti poor zpg forc mount consum pressur lower produc price artifici high cf ams telex februari octob increas rtz memorandum septemb zpg member avers collect control suppli maintain price market prepar pai ams telex januari zpg member express horror dismai independ merchant produc undercut agre price ams letter septemb spite agreement applic practic zpg succeed complet elimin competit shown occasion price discount zpg member occasion breach product export quota procedur commiss began investig activ zinc produc group june juli carri total inspect visit articl regul offic undertak concern inspect gave rise proceed court justic case judgment commiss wait judgment start proceed articl treati open formal proceed commiss juli send statement object undertak concern opportun inspect take copi commiss file case intern commiss memoranda paper undertak wish confidenti ii legal assess articl restrict competit agreement produc price price support measur produc price agreement produc price billit mg pag penarroya rtz um restrict freedom negoti purchas price zinc concentr zinc mine compani set sell price zinc metal zinc metal purchas commerci advantag agreement object effect restrict price competit european commun purpos establish restrict competit make differ relev produc price appli contract mine compani treatment charg metal purchas discount grant decis point agre produc price basi actual price stipul purchas suppli contract zinc concentr metal agreement produc price constant indirect influenc firm price behaviour resal ban restrict output control invest agreement forbid zinc custom resel point collect agre alloc product quota point notifi invest zpg point restrict competit agreement oblig produc impos restrict econom activ firm resal ban impos zinc purchas impos restrict produc commerci independ oblig notifi invest project full zpg meet proce discuss repres encroach commerci independ firm involv oblig notifi invest plan discuss plan notifi competitor exce accept limit exchang inform invest market outlook product capac discuss attempt made interfer individu firm independ respons invest polici appli exchang inform recommend cut product point activ kind amount concert practic undertak claim agreement imposit resal ban product quota notif invest real effect practic extrem implaus product quota document year year minut zpg meet firm larg stuck practic pointless alloc quota minut meet product quota agre zpg member fail observ quota penarroya claim reduc output quota level extent increas rememb zpg resolut allow member produc provid stockpil output penarroya refer increas output figur red her resal ban oblig reiter zpg paper point oblig practic effect point repeat year agre case articl applic suffici intent restrict competit intent carri full part restrict competit put effect mere fact agreement imposit resal ban product restrict invest control exchang inform issu recommend product cut inhibit firm commerci competit independ answer breach agreement zpg restrict zinc sale lme support bui oblig undertaken firm sell zinc lme circumst bui zinc reach lme engag compani bui support quot price constitut restrict competit object effect influenc lme zinc price diverg produc price reliev market pressur zpg member chang produc price produc brought lme price determin suppli demand line fix produc price reduc competit pressur exert lme price undertak defenc action defenc undertak concern case submit argu ment agreement produc price price support measur help reduc unreason high zinc price lme produc price price support measur help prevent violent fluctuat specul increas lme price dump central plan economi thirdli period year produc price differ markedli quot lme price reflect market agreement anticompetit effect repli argument point made attempt cope difficult market condit extrem fall demand firm mean consist competit fix purchas sell price competitor legitim mean combat alleg difficult market condit firm entitl flout eec competit rule alleg overcapac prevent alleg dump practic justifi attempt regul price market privat agreement firm argument unconvinc action intend deal difficult market condit decad addit long period agre produc price higher lme price lme price case accept gaug produc price reflect market price lme price influenc firm ow action zpg member margin quantiti zinc unrepres rang qualiti trade lme firm submit govern agenc member state relev commiss depart awar price fix agreement support measur member state author expressli approv fact member state author knowledg particip approv price fix agreement protect applic eec competit rule commiss awar exist zinc produc price cut product time commiss offici concern produc price collus product cut collus produc price publish technic press assum principl necessarili impli infring articl member trade associ associ recogn overcapac collud reduct capac attempt present case infer author knew fact reject involv author member state rate undertak obtain protect applic rule competit alleg govern depart knew approv util produc price ii collus price system european produc price agreement ceas effect situat aros natur price leader act independ competitor know follow establish mg debat intern set pattern european leadership pointer fact undertak attempt substitut termin agreement kind guid price leadership situat prevail case characterist give rise econom theori barometr price leadership remov undertak abil determin independ polici intend adopt common market circumst parallel price behaviour oligopoli produc homogen good suffici evid concert practic suffici evid result parallel price combin indic contact undertak desir price prior price exchang inform reinforc contact kind present case indic octob april mg hope barometr price leadership undertak contact price contact evid insuffici qualifi parallel conduct undertak concern concert practic mean articl iii market share agreement um penarroya billiton ams pag mg sell agre precis determin quantiti zinc produc tradit sale territori point set export quota german market point constitut sale limit share market mean articl agreement explicitli mention exampl prohibit restrict competit articl appli export restrict german market agre mg rtz directli indirectli rtz subsidiari isc ams similar agreement mg billiton mg pag rtz point restrict export germani case link reciproc arrang mg pag sell home market parti holland billiton case unit kingdom isc ams clear case market share exist ams cra rtz subsidiari billiton head agreement point difficulti encount ams began effort sell zinc contin onward point reveal exist market share continent produc rtz firm agre restrict rtz sale contin restrict continent produc export unit kingdom point establish firm concern case set restrict restrict competit form zinc sale member state true onward rtz subsidiari ams pressur ams exert enter continent zinc market greatli undermin export quota arrang exist zinc produc penetr continent market ams place framework agreement maximum quota talk negoti contact place firm concern zinc sale compani home market whilst term agreement share market involv direct approach firm aim control zinc shipment member state regul competit approach made intent influenc competitor zinc shipment put competitor pictur shipment modifi market behaviour constitut concert practic undertak knowingli substitut practic cooper risk competit cf judgment court justic suiker uni join case zuerchner case firm deni documentari evid establish exist agreement consist intern memoranda individu compani agreement exist practic effect firm tradit home market case privat reason agreement appli practic argument repudi reason doubt matter report intern compani memoranda accord fact report agreement talk export quota compani memoranda consist point exist import restrict confirm rtz document attempt period year continent european firm sell zinc respect home market eventu agreement rtz export quantiti market alloc import quota impli prohibit exce quantiti constitut indirect agre export ban documentari evid show firm larg stuck agre quota case find agreement import restrict constitut restrict competit mean articl requir proof restrict observ firm advanc argument resort iv respons infring undertak concern case particip anti competit agreement practic depend subsidiari undertak control case parent compani subsidiari control compani regard singl econom entiti parent compani held respons action subsidiari case busi incept agreement independ subsequ billiton um kzm budel billiton case vm asturienn um case billiton um held respons action firm confirm fact kzm budel share cost distribut aris activ adena point imput zpg billiton billiton claim involv zpg agreement time complet takeov kzm fail zpg worldwid cartel centr graviti european commun firm decis concern larg number firm involv regist offic subsidiari commun oper signific extent sporad commun zpg control world zinc market european commun region market point initi form zpg drive forc carri commun firm report written mg foundat zpg date juli speak diktat british australian canadian compani situat zinc market absenc restrict agreement countri compani made signific contribut improv competit condit commun particip zpg indirect effect commun articl appli undertak indirectli involv manipul competit commun effect trade member state agreement share market inher liabl directli affect trade member state object prevent zinc shipment member state keep defin limit price fix agreement collus price firm concern case affect trade member state intend remov possibl price competit zinc import succeed appli agreement impos resal ban custom action influenc zinc price quotat lme product invest control restrict calcul remov temptat firm suppli zinc produc sell member state custom member state agreement concert practic firm concern object effect artifici divid partit market member state articl sentenc articl regul exempt articl grant agreement decis concert practic kind articl notifi commiss notif occur case reason possibl exempt undertak submit absenc notif commiss agreement exempt articl basi fix produc price improv product distribut zinc brought benefit consum price stabil allegedli achiev member state help control inflat argument doubt reason state point agreement concert practic fact signific benefit question case relev econom util restrict agreement question judg light principl object eec treati present case found fix produc price collus price collect action influenc zinc price quotat lme product invest control market share export restrict primarili intend reduc competit involv partit nation market commun circumst exempt total agreement practic grant notifi absenc notif event fatal case consid basi distil compani commiss case articl regul intent infring commit intention undertak commit infring accord knew infring competit rule durat infring commenc infring infring consist agreement fix produc price manipul lme restrict control product invest share market commenc end meet zinc produc group juli matter infring put effect mg pag penarroya rtz um concern infring commenc juli make differ rtz undertak european commun unit kingdom access princip effect action felt commun billiton concern held respons action kzm budel infring case commenc date kzm join zpg septemb ii end infring firm concern decid end infring date zpg gradual fell firm stop observ agreement eventu cohes broke difficult infring end presumpt exercis firm favour type infring end record instanc effect relev agreement practic occur fix produc price occas mg evid file chang zinc price independ prior agreement octob point infer time prior agreement price firm concern anti competit effect born penarroya statement end onward zpg ceas oper penarroya independ line end produc price agreement put octob agreement influenc lme collect agre measur influenc lme involv firm effect measur document april point case billiton pag penarroya um infring end end involv joint oper bui north korean zinc year restrict control product invest bind agreement restrict product invest firm concern document end point collus matter firm concern form recommend observ autumn individu agreement mg pag april paragraph market share gener agreement reciproc arrang individu firm concern home market last end point bilater multilater arrang natur billiton ams made late april long arrang restrict effect end infring billiton rtz concern put april point continu natur infring infring consist seri separ agreement concert practic conclud embark afresh time aros measur sprang basic agreement juli ultim continu implement agreement adapt chang circumst implement switch merafin firm adena prior agreement produc price mere collus intend price affect find date state point zinc produc allow guid basic agreement juli infring articl continu infring mean articl council regul eec graviti infring infring type commit firm concern case directli indirectli fix purchas sell price trade condit limit control product market invest share market clear fact articl specif mention exampl strike foundat commun present case factor born mind undertak genuin attempt overcom problem caus errat fluctuat zinc price quot lme firm concern rtz join zpg avoid isol world zinc market larg depend thirdli exist zinc produc price common knowledg reason firm assum behaviour extent publicli offenc limit control product invest concern argument firm sole intend prevent oversuppli zinc plausibl whilst agreement product level lead medium long term improv structur suppli hand doubt intent firm difficult econom situat product cut suffici scale complet exclud competit true agreement fulli carri market share agreement reflect statu quo limit zinc shipment member state border respons increas export pressur unit kingdom onward firm close continent market complet uk import attempt situat rtz allow compensatori sale unit kingdom part agreement agreement complet isol relev nation market channel import flow moder restrict effect infring reduc serious gener agreement led complet exclus competit partli remain scope competit caus cartel break mitig circumst account individu firm favour mg partli respons end system fix produc price point billiton plai subordin role zpg budel joint ventur sale pressur gener zinc market help bring disintegr market share agreement pag part appli agreement larg passiv hanger ring leader zpg forc continent market rtz weaken anti competit effect market share agreement eventu caus collaps addit commiss account difficult econom situat commun zinc industri gener undertak concern found undertak concern cooper clear affair send statement object weigh factor commiss conclus fine size infring type durat impos present case size fine rel undertak question commiss account differ respect level integr consider sale product zinc metal adopt decis articl undertak billiton nederland bv metallgesellschaft ag société minièr métallurgi de penarroya sa preussag ag rio tinto zinc corpor plc union minièr sa infring articl eec treati period juli date engag practic directli indirectli undertak depend control acquir octob agre zinc produc price april take collect action influenc zinc price quotat london metal exchang autumn agre consult restrict output invest end agre home market put agreement effect metallgesellschaft preussag infring articl continu agreement restrict output date april billiton rtz continu agreement market share april articl result infring refer articl fine impos billiton nederland bv hundr fifti thousand ecu fl metallgesellschaft ag hundr thousand ecu dm société minièr métallurgi de penarroya sa hundr thousand ecu ff preussag ag hundr thousand ecu dm rio tinto zinc corpor plc hundr thousand ecu union minièr sa hundr fifti thousand ecu bfr articl fine impos articl paid month date notif decis account commiss european commun amro bank amsterdam sal oppenheim amp cie cologn société générale pari lloyd bank london banqu bruxel lambert brussel articl decis address undertak billiton nederland bv po box dr van zeelandstraat nl ak leidschendam metallgesellschaft ag reuterweg frankfurt main société minièr métallurgiqu de penarroya tour main montparnass avenu du main pari cedex preussag ag leibnizuf postfach hannov rio tinto zinc corpor plc po box st jame squar uk london sw ld union minièr avenu louis boît bruxel decis enforc pursuant articl eec treati brussel august commiss fran andriessen member commiss