Duesseldorf | Reuters –– Germany’s anti-trust regulator said Friday it was investigating a possible cartel of companies making agricultural machinery, particularly tractors.
It did not name any targets of the probe.
German agricultural trading group Baywa said the cartel office had searched its headquarters earlier this week on suspicion that some of its employees were involved in anti-competitive agreements.
Baywa said a court order showed several companies from the industry were being investigated, adding it was co-operating with the cartel office.
Deere and Co., the maker of John Deere tractors, said late on Friday it was not involved.
“Deere has not been contacted by German antitrust authorities and has not experienced a ‘raid’ of any kind,” a spokesman said by email.
— Reporting for Reuters by Matthias Inverardi; additional reporting by Nick Carey; writing by Maria Sheahan.
