As expected, the European Union has fined nine semiconductor manufacturers today over price fixing, with penalties totaling more than €331 million. Samsung faces the largest fee of €145.7 million, while Infineon received the second highest at €56.7 million.
Those sums could have been much higher. The Commission reduced Samsung's fine by about 20% and around 50% for Infineon after settlement arrangements, under which the companies agree not to appeal the EU's ruling, according to the NY Times. Others hit by the suit include Hitachi, Mitsubishi, NEC, Toshiba, Elpida, Hynix, and Nanya - most if not all of which were granted a 10% reduction in penalties.
Micron was involved in the cartel, but received immunity for blowing the whistle. Between July 1, 1998 and June 15, 2002, the companies shared "secret information, mostly on a bilateral basis, through which they coordinated the price levels and quotations for DRAMs," said regulators.