DPE declines to comment on European CR investigation

Geneva, Switzerland - DuPont Performance Elastomers has declined to comment on the EC investigations into an alleged cartel among manufacturers of polychloroprene. Its rival, Lanxess AG has categorically denied being involved in any way.

In January 2005, DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC agreed to plead guilty to price-fixing of polychloroprene over a three-year period from Sept 1999 to April 2002 and paid an $84 million fine. That investigation, carried out by the US Department of Justice, is very similar to the current investigation by the EC competition authorities. DuPont-Dow was a 50-50 joint venture, now dissolved, between DuPont and Dow Chemical. The polychloroprene activities of the DuPont-Dow joint venture have now passed to DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE).

In a formal statement issued following the EC announcement, DPE said, "An investigation by the European Commission into alleged violations of EU competition law in the polychloroprene industry (PCP) has been underway for several years involving DuPont Performance Elastomers (DPE) and other PCP producers. DPE continues to cooperate with the Commission in this investigation. While the investigation continues, we are not at liberty to comment any further. We remain committed to serving customers and meeting the highest standards of ethical and legal compliance."