L 353/50 Official Journal of the European Union 13.12.2006 COMMISSION DECISION of 21 December 2005 relating to a proceeding under Article 81 of the Treaty establishing the European Community and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement against Flexsys NV, Bayer AG, Crompton Manufacturing Company Inc. (former Uniroyal Chemical Company Inc.), Crompton Europe Ltd, Chemtura Corporation (former Crompton Corporation), General Quimica SA, Repsol Quimica SA and Repsol YPF SA. (Case No COMP/[F/C.38.443 — Rubber chemicals) (notified under document number (2005) 5592) (only the English, German and Spanish texts are authentic) (Text with EEA relevance) (2006/902/EC) 1. SUMMARY OF THE INFRINGEMENT (4) The major global producers of rubber chemicals are 1.1. Addressees This decision is addressed to the following undertakings: Flexsys, Bayer and Chemtura (former Crompton), account- ing together for approximately a half of the world-wide rubber chemical market. There are a number of significant smaller competitors, such as General Quimica (Spain), Duslo (Slovakia), Istrochem (Slovakia), Noveon (USA) and Great Lakes (USA), as well as many minor competitors —  Flexsys N.V; particularly in Asia. — Bayer AG; —  Crompton Manufacturing Company, Inc. (former (5)  The major customers for rubber chemicals are the globally Uniroyal Chemical Company Inc.); operating big tire companies Michelin (France), Goodyear (USA), Bridgestone/[Firestone (Japan), Continental (Ger- ] many) and Pirelli (Italy), accounting together for about 35- —  Crompton Europe Ltd; 40 % of world-wide consumption. —  Chemtura Corporation (former Crompton Corpora- tion); . . . (6) The geographic scope of rubber chemicals business General Quimica SA; changed gradually from regional to global in the mid- 1990s. This affected the scope of the cartel as well, so that —  Repsol Quimica SA; after 1995 the parties reached understandings mostly about world-wide price increases. — Repsol YPF SA. The addressees of the Decision participated in a single, o complex and continuous infringement of Article 81 of the L3. Functioning of the cartel Treaty establishing the European Community and of Article 53 of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, involving the fixing of prices and the exchange of confidential information concerning certain rubber che- (7)  Whilst there are a number of indications that collusive micals (antioxidants, antiozonants and primary accelera- tors) in the EEA and worldwide markets. 1.2. The rubber chemicals sector Rubber chemicals are synthetic or organic chemicals that act as productivity and quality enhancers in the manu- facture of rubber, mainly used in vehicle tires. In 2001, the EEA market value was estimated at EUR 200 million, covering the categories antiozonants, antioxidants and primary accelerators that were affected by the cartel. activities within the rubber chemicals industry were already taking place at least occasionally in the 1970s, the Commission only has sufficiently firm evidence of the existence of the cartel for the period covering the years 1996-2001 for Flexsys, Bayer and Crompton (now Chemtura) (including Crompton Europe and Uniroyal Chemical Company). These undertakings agreed to raise prices of certain rubber chemicals (antioxidants, antiozo- nants and primary accelerators) in the EEA and world-wide markets at least in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001. General Quimica, which must be considered a fringe player, participated to these agreements in 1999 and 2000.