Bayer, DSM, DuPont Dow all contacted on EPDM pricing probe

LONDON (Dec. 13)—EPDM producers Bayer A.G., DSM N.V., and DuPont Dow Elastomers L.L.C. have confirmed they have been contacted by competition authorities investigating alleged price collusion among EPDM producers. ExxonMobil Chemical, one of the four largest EPDM producers, said it has not been contacted and is "not involved in any way." The latest investigation was triggered by Crompton Corp., itself an EPDM supplier. The group said it contacted the authorities after it "became aware of such behavior by manufacturers of EPDM." Crompton said it has gained conditional amnesty for reporting its discovery. European Commission inspectors assisted by officials of the Member States "carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of a number of EPDM producers in several European countries," according to a Commission statement. Spokesmen for Bayer, DSM and DuPont Dow said their firms are cooperating.