Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: Japanese automotive electronics supplier sentenced on bid rigging plea, (Jun 17, 2016)

By Jeffrey May, J.D.

Omron Automotive Electronics Co. Ltd.—a Japan-based manufacturer of on-board electronics components for automobiles—agreed to plead guilty last March to conspiring to rig bids on power window switches. Earlier this week, the federal district court in Detroit sentenced Omron to pay a $4.55 million criminal fine on the company's guilty plea. Judgment was entered on June 13 (U.S. v. Omron Automotive Electronics Co. Ltd., Criminal No. 2:16-cr-20182-NGE-APP).

According to the one-count felony charge filed in March, Omron and an unnamed co-conspirator conspired to rig bids for power window switches sold to Honda Motor Co. Ltd. The switches assist in raising and lowering the windows. The conspiracy extended to sales to Honda’s U.S. subsidiaries and affiliates, and the switches involved were installed in 2006 and 2011 model-year Honda Civics.

Under the plea agreement, Omron agreed to the $4.55 million fine. The Justice Department did not seek restitution in light of the availability of civil causes of action and the potential for treble damages.

Auto parts investigation. More than 100 companies and individuals have been charged in the Department of Justice Antitrust Division's ongoing auto parts probe. It is the largest investigation in Antitrust Division history. The Justice Department has not identified the alleged co-conspirator of Omron. To date, no other charges have been filed by the Justice Department alleging a conspiracy to rig bids on power window switches.

Companies: Omron Automotive Electronics Co. Ltd.; Honda Motor Co. Ltd.

Attorneys: Jacklin Chou Lem for U.S. Department of Justice. Jeremy J. Calsyn (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP) for Omron Automotive Electronics Co.

News: Antitrust AntitrustDivisionNews