Defense manufacturer Diehl was fined €1.2 million by the European Commission for teaming up with a rival to carve up European markets for military hand grenades for nearly 14 years.
Diehl and RUAG agreed to only sell hand grenades in the countries they allocated between them between 2007 and 2021, the European Union cartel enforcer said. It’s the first time the EU has fined a defense industry cartel.
RUAG wasn’t fined because it told the Commission about the illegal pact. Diehl’s fine was reduced by half for coooperating with the EU investigation plus a further 10 percent reduction for agreeing to settle the case.
EU officials raided company premises to gather evidence for the investigation in November 2021.
