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Illegal Cartels

Shell apologises for illegal cartel meetings in Brussels probe

From Our October 2004 Shell News Archive

Financial Times: Shell apologises for bitumen meetings in Brussels probe

Royal Dutch/Shell said it regretted attending meetings with roadbuilders and bitumen suppliers. The apology came as it responded to charges from the European Commission of possible price-fixing in the Dutch bitumen market.”: Rein Willems, chairman of Shell in the Netherlands, said: “We are concerned about this matter. We should not have been in these meetings and we regret our involvement in this case.”

By James Boxell

Published: October 22 2004

Royal Dutch/Shell said it regretted attending meetings with roadbuilders and bitumen suppliers. The apology came as it responded to charges from the European Commission of possible price-fixing in the Dutch bitumen market.

Rein Willems, chairman of Shell in the Netherlands, said: “We are concerned about this matter. We should not have been in these meetings and we regret our involvement in this case.”

The Anglo-Dutch energy group, which is seeking to restore its reputation after overbooking 23 per cent of its oil reserves, said it had received a “statement of objections” from the Commission, along with 13 other bitumen market participants. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell’s cartel fine cut to 81 million euros ($104.2 million)

Shell Wins 25% Cut in Bitumen Cartel Fine, Total Loses Bid

By Stephanie Bodoni on September 27, 2012

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) won a 25 percent reduction in a fine for its role in a bitumen industry cartel, while other members including Total SA (FP) and Royal BAM Group NV lost their appeals at a European Union court.

Shell’s fine was cut to 81 million euros ($104.2 million) from 108 million euros because antitrust regulators failed to show that the company “played the role of instigator and leader in the infringement,” the EU General Court ruled today. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Appeals court reinstates gas price-fixing lawsuit against Shell, ChevronTexaco

The suit accuses the companies’ joint ventures – Motiva Enterprises and Equilon Enterprises – as being part of a plan by the oil giants to inflate fuel prices beginning in 1998 and ending as early as 2001, when Texaco sold its stake to win approval of its purchase of Chevron.

From our Archives…

The Boston Herald: Appeals court reinstates gas price-fixing lawsuit against Shell, ChevronTexaco

By Associated Press

Wednesday, June 2, 2004

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal appeals court on Tuesday reinstated a lawsuit accusing ChevronTexaco Corp. and Shell Oil Co. of operating a price-fixing conspiracy.

The suit accuses the companies’ joint ventures – Motiva Enterprises and Equilon Enterprises – as being part of a plan by the oil giants to inflate fuel prices beginning in 1998 and ending as early as 2001, when Texaco sold its stake to win approval of its purchase of Chevron. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell settles South Africa cartel case

The Competition Commission of South Africa announced on Tuesday that it has reached settlement agreements with two major oil companies, namely Engen Petroleum Limited (Engen) and Shell South Africa Marketing (Pty) Limited (Shell) in which they admit to having fixed the price of bitumen with other oil companies.

The commission said the two companies did so by collectively determining and agreeing on pricing principles, including a starting reference price and monthly price adjustment mechanism. Engen has agreed to pay a penalty of R28,8m and Shell has agreed to pay R 26.3m. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell accused of price fixing cartel, again

Hearing on Shell plea set Jan. 17

Philippine Daily Inquirer: Monday, January 9th, 2012

The Court of Appeals has calendared for hearing a pending petition of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. questioning a Manila regional trial court’s resolution that ordered the Big Three oil companies to open their books of account to government audit amid allegations of price fixing.

In setting the hearing for Jan. 17, the appellate court cited the “far-reaching effects to the public” of Shell’s petition that seeks to void the April 27, 2009, order of Manila RTC Branch 26 Judge Silvino Pampilo. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell, Dow lose court challenge to EU antitrust fine

LUXEMBOURG, July 13 | Wed Jul 13, 2011 4:07am EDT

(Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and Dow Chemical (DOW.N) lost a court appeal on Wednesday against a fine levied by EU regulators five years ago for taking part in a cartel, but the court cut a fine imposed on Italy’s Eni (ENI.MI).

The General Court, Europe’s second-highest, also annulled penalties levied against Czech petrochemicals group Unipetrol (UNPEsp.PR) and Polish company Trade-Stomil.

“With regard to Unipetrol, its subsidiary Kaucuk and Trade-Stomil, the Court considers that the evidence admitted by the Commission is not sufficient for a finding that those companies participated in unlawful agreements,” the court found. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Record fine over cigarette price fixes

Experts said it was too soon to tell how the settlements would affect the six other companies still involved in the case – Imperial Tobacco, Tesco, Wm Morrison,Safeway, Royal Dutch Shell and Co-operative Group

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Shell apologises for bitumen meetings in Brussels probe

From Our October 2004 Shell News Archive

Financial Times: Shell apologises for bitumen meetings in Brussels probe

Royal Dutch/Shell said it regretted attending meetings with roadbuilders and bitumen suppliers. The apology came as it responded to charges from the European Commission of possible price-fixing in the Dutch bitumen market.”: Rein Willems, chairman of Shell in the Netherlands, said: “We are concerned about this matter. We should not have been in these meetings and we regret our involvement in this case.”

By James Boxell

Published: October 22 2004

Royal Dutch/Shell said it regretted attending meetings with roadbuilders and bitumen suppliers. The apology came as it responded to charges from the European Commission of possible price-fixing in the Dutch bitumen market.

Rein Willems, chairman of Shell in the Netherlands, said: “We are concerned about this matter. We should not have been in these meetings and we regret our involvement in this case.”

The Anglo-Dutch energy group, which is seeking to restore its reputation after overbooking 23 per cent of its oil reserves, said it had received a “statement of objections” from the Commission, along with 13 other bitumen market participants. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Oil giants face price-fix charges

The Scotsman: Oil giants face price-fix charges

“Shell, which is being investigated in relation to its Dutch operations, said that the firm had been co-operating fully with the investigation, but has yet to be informed of any decision.”

Alastair Reed

Posted Oct 17, 2004

EUROPEAN Union regulators are set to charge two global oil giants and a Dutch road builder with fixing the price of a petroleum product used to pave streets.

Oil giants Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch/Shell have both been under investigation by the European Commission as part of inquiries stretching back to 2002, along with road builders such as Ballast Nedam NV of the Netherlands. The investigation focused on the market for bitumen, a by-product from the crude oil refining process, which is primarily used in the construction industry for surfacing roads and waterproofing. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

EU to Charge Exxon, Shell in Cartel Probe, People Say

Bloomberg: EU to Charge Exxon, Shell in Cartel Probe, People Say

“The European Commission, the EU’s Brussels-based regulatory arm, will charge the producers and consumers with colluding to fix prices for bitumen in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Spain, said people who declined to be identified.”

Posted 16 Oct. (Bloomberg) — European Union regulators will charge oil companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch/Shell Group, and road builders such as Ballast Nedam NV with fixing the price of a petroleum product used to pave streets, people familiar with the matter said.

The European Commission, the EU’s Brussels-based regulatory arm, will charge the producers and consumers with colluding to fix prices for bitumen in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Portugal and Spain, said people who declined to be identified. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Royal Dutch/Shell appeared in a Swedish court again over a 1999 price-fixing cartel

The Times: Need to Know: Royal Dutch/Shell… appeared in a Swedish court again over a 1999 price-fixing cartel”

24 August 04

Royal Dutch/Shell, Statoil, Norsk Hydro, OK-Q8 and Preem appeared in a Swedish court again over a 1999 price-fixing cartel, as the Swedish competition agency, Konkurrensverket, demanded the five’s SwKr 52 million (£3.8 million) fine be raised sevenfold.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
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