Between late 1994 and 2000, the companies - Eka Chemicals (Akzo Nobel), Finnish Chemicals, Erikem Luxembourg, Arkema France, Elf Aquitaine, Aragonesas Industrias y Energia and Uralita - fixed prices and allocated markets through a series of meetings and other illicit contacts.Akzo Nobel and its subsidiary Eka Chemicals received full immunity from fines, as they were first to provide information about the cartel. Finnish Chemicals' fine is reduced by 50 percent, because it co-operated with the investigation.The fine imposed on Arkema France was increased by 90 percent, as the company is a repeat offender and has been condemned for three previous cartels before this one.Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: "These companies have to learn the hard way that the Commission will impose high fines when they rip off their customers, and ultimately consumers, by forming a cartel."