AB Electrolux said Feb. 7 that French regulators will issue their preliminary findings in an antitrust probe alleging that Electrolux and other appliance makers coordinated prices of large domestic appliances in France.
The Swedish appliance maker said in a statement that the French competition authority will issue its statement of objections, the initial conclusion in its investigation, in March. A statement of objections does not prejudge the final outcome of a case, it added.
Electrolux said the potential impact on the Stockholm-based company was unclear. "Given the nature of these investigations, it cannot be ruled out that the outcome could have a material impact on Electrolux financial result and cash flow," it said in the statement.
France's antitrust regulator has been conducting two separate probes involving Electrolux, the company said. One, in which the findings are to be released in March, alleges that Electrolux and other appliance makers coordinated prices of large domestic appliances in France between September 2006 and April 2009.
Electrolux did not disclose the nature of the second probe and said the authority has so far not communicated its conclusions of that investigation.
The company said it was cooperating fully in both investigations.
