The EU Court of Justice partially quashes the General Court’s decision and reduces the fines on eleven producers of high voltage power cables for their participation in a global market-sharing cartel (NKT)

On 14 May 2020, the European Court of Justice (the "ECJ") partially quashed the General Court's (the "GC") judgment upholding the European Commission's ("Commission") power cables cartel decision with respect to NKT and its wholly owned subsidiary NKT Verwaltungs (together "NKT" or the "appellants"). In doing so, the ECJ reduced NKT's fine by EUR 200 000. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW - KEY TAKEAWAYS The Commission must base its decisions 'only on objections on which the parties concerned have been able to comment'. Therefore, the Commission cannot hold liable a company for conduct which was not covered in the Statement of Objections ("SO"). The Commission must show awareness as regards the various elements of an infringement to hold a company liable for the conduct of another company.