CURRENT CASES
Animal Feed Phosphates
We are currently speaking to a number of claimants who wish to recover losses resulting from a cartel who fixed the prices of animal feed phosphates. Phosphates are used in feed for animals such as cattle, pigs, poultry, fish and pets.
The Cartel
In a Decision on 20 July 2010, the European Commission found that a number of the leading animal feed phosphates producers in Europe participated in an illegal price fixing cartel. The cartel operated for over three decades and covered a large part of the European Economic Area (EEA).
The cartel consisted of 13 companies, including FMC Foret S.A., Timab Industries S.A., Compagnie Financière et de Participation Roullier ('CFPR'), Kemira Oyj, Yara, Ercros S.A., Tessenderlo Chemie N.V., Quimitécnica.com – Comércio e Indústria Química S.A, and José de Mello SGPS S.A. They were collectively fined a sum in excess of €175 million.
Although fines have been imposed on the companies addressed by the Commission, none of this money is used to compensate those who have suffered damages as a result of this illegal activity. The Commission specifically states in every press release that any company affected by such illegal actions has a right, and are encouraged to pursue a claim for damages before the courts of a Member State.
Contact
If you are a purchaser of animal feed phosphates, you may well have been significantly overcharged during the 30 year cartelised period ending in February 2004 at the earliest.
For a free confidential consultation, please contact Anthony Maton.
