The Bundeskartellamt has levied fines against Sennheiser electronic SE & Co. KG and Sonova Consumer Hearing Sales Germany GmbH, along with three responsible employees, amounting to almost six million euros due to violations of vertical price fixing regulations. Sennheiser, known for its high-quality audio products, particularly headphones, transferred its consumer electronics business to Sonova in March 2022, which continued the illegal practices until September 2022.

The investigation was initiated following a request for assistance from the Austrian Federal Competition Authority and a raid conducted in September 2022. Andreas Mundt, President of the Bundeskartellamt, emphasized that illegal cartels can also harm consumers when manufacturers set retail prices with their dealers, thereby restricting price competition.

Since at least 2015, Sennheiser employees engaged in discussions with German retailers not only about purchasing prices but also about coordinating retail prices for premium headphones. These discussions primarily aimed at increasing consumer prices, with ongoing monitoring of retail prices and the use of specialized software. The coordination intensified when retail prices fell significantly below the recommended retail price or when retailers complained about insufficient margins.

Following the transfer of the business to Sonova, these practices continued at a reduced intensity until the Bundeskartellamt's raid. The fines were reduced due to the cooperation of Sennheiser and Sonova with the authority, allowing for a settlement to conclude the proceedings. The fines are now legally binding, and no penalties were imposed on the involved retailers for discretionary reasons.

A case report detailing the findings will soon be published on the Bundeskartellamt's website.