THREE ELECTRONIC COMPANIES PLEAD GUILTY TO ROLE IN LCD PANEL PRICE FIXING CONSPIRACY

On November 12, 2008, LG Display Co. Ltd. (“LG”), Sharp Corp. (“Sharp”), and Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. (“Chunghwa”) pled guilty for their role in a conspiracy to fix prices for liquid crystal display (“LCD”) panels and agreed to pay criminal fines totaling $585 million.
LCD panels are used in computer monitors, notebooks, televisions, mobile phones, and other electronic devices. Worldwide sales in 2006 were $70 billion.

LG, a South Korean company, allegedly participated in the conspiracy to fix prices on LCD panels sold worldwide from September 2001 to June 2006. It agreed to pay $400 million in criminal fines, the second highest fine imposed by the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division ever.

Sharp, a Japanese electronics manufacturer, allegedly participated in the conspiracy to fix prices of LCD panels sold to Dell Inc., Motorola Inc., and Apple Computer, Inc. for various lengths of time between April 2001 to December 2006. It agreed to pay a criminal fine of $120 million.

Chunghwa, a Taiwanese LCD panel manufacturer, allegedly participated in the conspiracy to fix prices on LCD panels sold worldwide from September 2001 to December 2006. It agreed to pay a criminal fine of $65 million.

Andre Barlow
(202) 589-1834
abarlow@dbmlawgroup.com