Nishikawa fined $130m in Canada, US conspiracy case

TORONTO (ICIS)–Japanese auto parts firm Nishikawa Rubber has agreed to pay a $130m fine in a bid rigging conspiracy case in Canada and the US, Canada’s competition regulator confirmed on Thursday.

Nishikawa Rubber pleaded guilty to taking part in the conspiracy involving illegal arrangements with other suppliers of body seal products from 2000 to 2012.

The products were sold to US automakers for vehicles manufactured there and to Toyota and Honda for cars made in Canada that were then sent to the US for sale, the Canadian competition bureau said. In Canada, the conspiracy affected about $236m in body seal sales.

The bureau learned of a conspiracy in the auto parts industry through an immunity programme and began investigating in 2009. It conducted the investigation in cooperation with US authorities.

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