Chile Restricts Major Tobacco Company for Anti-competitive Behavior

Source from:  Santiago Times‎ 12/06/2012

Supreme Court fines BAT Chile US$1.7 million.

The Chilean branch of the world's second-largest tobacco company was again slapped with restrictions for anti-competitive practices. The Supreme Court fined British American Tobacco Chile (BAT Chile), formerly Chiletabacos, US$1.7 million and imposed further regulations on their business practices Tuesday.

The fine follows a complaint from the Philip Morris International, the world's largest tobacco company, and the National Economic Prosecutor (FNE) claiming BAT Chile relapsed into anti-competitive practices for which they had previously been convicted.

Currently 93 percent of national cigarette sales go toward one of BAT Chile's various brands.

"The facts are different from those for which they were previously punished, but this makes them a repeat offender of his type, which warrants not only action but monetary punishment," the verdict said. Enditem