• Germany edition
Business & Money
Photo: DPA

Deutsche Bahn sues steel giants over cartel

Published: 20 Dec 12 11:39 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/money/20121220-46891.html

Germany's national rail company Deutsche Bahn said on Thursday it had filed a court case against heavy industry giant ThyssenKrupp and other companies over alleged track pricing agreements.

Deutsche Bahn said in a statement that it was seeking damages in a Frankfurt court over alleged price deals among members of a "track cartel" in the sale of tracks to the rail company, but it did not give a figure.

A report in Thursday's Süddeutsche Zeitung said the amount was about €750
million.

Gerd Becht, of Deutsche Bahn, said in the statement that the company had "appealed to the understanding" of the cartel members over the past months to reach an agreement but had seen "no constructive cooperation" towards an accord.

As well as ThyssenKrupp, which alongside steel also makes elevators, industrial plant technology, submarines and car parts, the case involves Moravia Steel, Vossloh and the former owner of a Vossloh subsidiary Stahlberg Rönsch.

In July, German anti-trust authorities fined companies involved in a rail cartel investigation including ThyssenKrupp nearly €125 million.

The fines related to a probe into whether manufacturers made cartel agreements on the supply of rail to Deutsche Bahn, to the detriment of the railway company, the Federal Cartel Office said.

AFP/bk

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

14:17 December 20, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
Correct to tackle a Cartel operation but a little hypocritical coming from DB who held an unfair monopoly for decades.
16:28 December 20, 2012 by grinners
Looks like putting prices up and suing business partners is the new profit driving strategie for 2013.

I'm sure the board will benefit.
20:20 December 20, 2012 by mobiusro
By no means am I trying to excuse the others, but is it only me or are the Germans very ok with monopolies as long as they are the ones doing it?
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Photo: DPA

Economists warn against German euro exit

While a third of Germans would rather pay with the old Deutsche mark than the euro, economists warn that a German exit from the currency union would result in a disaster. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Germany cool to France's EU economy plan

Germany said Friday that French President Francois Hollande's proposal for a eurozone economic government was "interesting" but reacted coolly to his call for strengthened European budgetary powers. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Au pairs rules relax for non-German families

Foreign families will soon be able to officially engage au pairs from outside the European Union, as long as they speak German at home, as the government prepares to change the law. READ () »

Wolfgang Schäuble and his French counterpart Pierre Moscovici. Photo: DPA

Germany refuses to slam French economic policy

Germany will not publicly criticize France over economic policy, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble insisted on Thursday, amid differences between Berlin and Paris over growth versus austerity in battling the eurozone debt crisis. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Capri-Sun drink wins false advertising award

A German food industry watchdog singled out drinks-maker Capri-Sun for its annual advertising "award" on Thursday, for what the group described as "shameless" marketing of sugary drinks to children. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Anaemic economy feels winter chill

The German economy, Europe's biggest, clocked up anaemic growth at the start of 2013 as the freezing winter weather put the brakes on activity, official data showed on Wednesday. READ () »

Photo: DPA

ThyssenKrupp bins 3,000 admin jobs

German heavy industry giant ThyssenKrupp said on Wednesday it plans to axe 3,000 administrative jobs worldwide as disastrous investments in steel operations overseas tore holes in its balance sheet in the second quarter. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Pay deal for metal workers averts strike

Germany's powerful union IG Metall agreed a pay deal with the metal industry's employers association early Wednesday, averting the threat of a major strike. READ () »

Photo: DPA

First ever strike hits Amazon's German unit

German employees of Amazon staged their first-ever walkouts on Tuesday as the US internet retail giant was hit by a dispute over pay. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Volkswagen plans giant car plant in China

German auto giant Volkswagen will build a plant in central China, a spokesman said Tuesday, as it battles US rival General Motors to be the top foreign automaker in the world's biggest car market. READ () »

More Business & Money

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

786 jobs available
605 new jobs this week
28 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Latest Business & Money news from Sweden
News from the Goethe-Institut
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.