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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
The United States of America, acting through its attorneys, charges: DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFENSE 1. BAYER AG is made a defendant on the charge stated below. 2. Beginning in or about July 1995 and continuing until in or about December 2001, defendant and co-conspirators participated in a combination and conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by maintaining and increasing the price of certain rubber chemicals sold in the United States and elsewhere. The combination and conspiracy engaged in by the defendant and co-conspirators was in unreasonable restraint of interstate and foreign trade and commerce in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. § 1). 3. The charged combination and conspiracy consisted of a continuing agreement, understanding, and concert of action among the defendant and co-conspirators, the substantial term of which was to suppress and eliminate competition by maintaining and increasing the price of certain rubber chemicals in the United States and elsewhere. 4. For the purpose of forming and carrying out the charged combination and conspiracy, the defendant and co-conspirators did those things that they combined and conspired to do, including, among other things:
DEFENDANT AND CO-CONSPIRATORS 5. The defendant is an entity organized and existing under the laws of Germany, with its principal place of business in Leverkusen, Germany. During the period covered by this Information, the defendant engaged in the business of producing and selling certain rubber chemicals in the United States and elsewhere. 6. Various corporations and individuals, not made defendants in this Information, participated as co-conspirators in the offense charged herein and performed acts and made statements in furtherance of it. 7. Whenever in this Information reference is made to any act, deed, or transaction of any corporation, the allegation means that the corporation engaged in the act, deed, or transaction by or through its officers, directors, employees, agents, or other representatives while they were actively engaged in the management, direction, control, or transaction of its business or affairs. TRADE AND COMMERCE 8. Rubber chemicals are a group of additives used to improve the elasticity, strength, and durability of rubber products. Rubber chemicals are used primarily in the manufacture of tires, outdoor furniture, hoses, belts, and footwear. 9. During the period covered by this Information, the defendant and co-conspirators manufactured, sold, and distributed rubber chemicals in a continuous and uninterrupted flow of interstate and foreign trade and commerce to customers located in states or countries other than the states or countries in which the defendant and co-conspirators produced rubber chemicals. 10. The business activities of the defendant and co-conspirators that are the subject of this Information were within the flow of, and substantially affected, interstate and foreign trade and commerce. JURISDICTION AND VENUE 11. The combination and conspiracy charged in this Information was carried out, in part, in the Northern District of California within the five years preceding the filing of this Information. ALL IN VIOLATION OF TITLE 15, UNITED STATES CODE, SECTION 1. Dated: 7/13/04
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