The Bundeskartellamt has fined AVM Computersysteme Vertriebs GmbH and one staff member for vertical price fixing with six electronics retailers, totaling nearly 16 million euros. AVM, a German company, is known for manufacturing telecommunications and network technology products under the 'FRITZ!' brand, including routers, repeaters, telephones, and smart home products.

The investigation was initiated based on an anonymous tip-off to the Bundeskartellamt's whistleblowing system, leading to a dawn raid in February 2022. AVM employees were found to have coordinated end consumer prices with electronics retailers, aiming to restrict price competition and increase prices, violating the prohibition of resale price maintenance.

The Bundeskartellamt highlighted that AVM employees monitored retailers' end consumer prices, demanded minimum sales prices, and coerced retailers to raise prices or adjust them upwards. Despite the possibility of a settlement, fines were imposed on AVM, with the orders being final. Notably, no fines were levied on the retailers involved in the price-fixing scheme.

A case summary under the German Competition Act will be published on the Bundeskartellamt's website, detailing the violations and fines imposed on AVM Computersysteme Vertriebs GmbH.