Seven particleboard producers and VHI searched by German cartel office

Investigations into suspicions that seven particleboard manufacturers including VHI, the German wood based panels industry federation, have been involved in illegal price fixing between 2003 and 2007 is currently being conducted by the German Federal Cartel Office.
During a search based on a warrant issued by the Bonn District Court on March 4, 2008, officials seized documents that will be reviewed in the coming weeks to ascertain whether they contain incriminating evidence.
The companies involved are Glunz AG (Meppen), Pfleiderer AG (Neumarkt), Egger Holzwerkstoffe Brilon GmbH & Co KG (Brilon), Kronospan GmbH (Bischweier), Nolte Holzwerkstoff GmbH & Co KG (Germersheim), Rauch Spanplattenwerk GmbH (Markt Bibart), and Sauerlander Spanplatten GmbH & Co KG (Arnsberg).
The background as to why the Federal Cartel Office undertook the investigations is not clear at present.
There is an indication that tips from within the particleboard industry itself did not spark the investigations. Thus there are no cooperative witnesses working with the Federal Cartel Office providing the basis for the searches.
Source: Euwid