Division (13)

Within the category of very serious infringements, the scale of likely fines also makes it possible to set the fines at a level which ensures that they have sufficient deterrent effect, taking into account the size of each undertaking. In this respect, the Commission notes that in 2003, the most recent financial year preceding this Decision, the turnover of UCB was EUR 3 billion, that of Akzo Nobel EUR 13 billion and that of BASF EUR 33,4 billion. Accordingly, the Commission considers it appropriate to multiply the fine for Akzo Nobel with a factor of 1,5 and that of BASF with a factor of 2.