Tuesday February 12, 06:16 PM
EU regulators raid microchip giant Intel, computer retailers
BRUSSELS (AFP) - European Commission antitrust regulators on Tuesday raided microchip giant Intel (NASDAQ: INTC - news) and a number of personal computer retailers in Europe on concerns they might have stifled competition.
"The commission has reason to believe that the companies concerned may have violated (EU) rules on restrictive business practices and/or abuse of a dominant market position," the EU's competition regulator said in a statement.
It did not disclose the number or names of companies raided, or divulge where they took place, saying only that "commission officials were accompanied by their counterparts from the relevant national competition authorities."
The antitrust watchdog said "the fact that the European Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour."
However, a spokesman for Intel confirmed that the company's office in Munich, Germany had been targetted, adding: "We are cooperating with investigators."
EU regulators have already filed antitrust charges against Intel in a separate ongoing case related to suspicions that it had abused its dominant market position.
EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes is leading a "no-tolerance" crusade against cartels and last year imposed some 3.3 billion euros (4.7 billion dollars) in fines on members of such illegal clubs.
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