Brussels/ Richmond, Virginia -- The offices of polyurethane foamers Recticel in Europe and Carpenter Co. in the US have been raided in an antitrust probe involving US, European and Canadian antitrust authorities.
The Directorate General for Competition of the EC conducted unannounced inspections at Brussels-based Recticel's premises in Belgium and the United Kingdom and at Eurofoam premises in Austria, Recticel said in a 2 Aug statement.
Vienna-based Eurofoam is part of a 50:50 joint venture between the Recticel Group and foam and synthetics specialist the Greiner Group.
"These inspections are part of an investigation covering the sector of polyurethane foam manufacturers," Recticel said in the statement.
Virgina-based polyurethane foamer Carpenter was recently subject to an unannounced raid, this time by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of the probe into pricing practices in the PU foam sector.
So far, no other companies under investigation have acknowledged any investigation into their activities.
Carpenter sent the following statement to UTI:
"In connection with a multi-jurisdiction investigation of the pricing practices related to polyurethane foam products in North America and Europe, the US Government, the European Commission and the Ontario Commissioner of Competition have required that several manufacturers of polyurethane foam, including Carpenter Co. and several of its subsidiaries, produce certain information and documents. Carpenter Co. is being fully responsive and cooperative with these entities to facilitate their review." (RD)
"
