PANASONIC has been fined $1.5m by the Canadian Federal Court, the same as the fine imposed on Embraco last week, for its part in conspiring to fix the price of hermetic refrigeration compressors sold to a refrigerator and freezer manufacturer in Canada.
The Bureau's investigation revealed that Panasonic conspired with Embraco North America Inc. and other competitors to fix the price of hermetic refrigeration compressors sold in Canada, and elsewhere, from January 2005 to December 2005. The compressors were sold to WC Wood Corporation, located in Guelph, Ontario, and used in the manufacture of various brand-name chest freezers.

Panasonic sold hermetic refrigeration compressors to W C Wood from its factory in Japan. Prior to negotiating their annual supply contract, Panasonic and Embraco were found guilty of exchanging information on their hermetic refrigeration compressor prices, production capacities and other market intelligence, and agreed to increase the price for hermetic refrigeration compressors sold to WC Wood.

Panasonic's plea marks the end of the Bureau's investigation into this matter.