Capacitors direct purchasers price-fixing $165M class action settlement — round 6

Two more defendants have agreed to settle price-fixing claims surrounding capacitors, making this the sixth round of payments in the settlement.

The settlement benefits consumers who purchased aluminum, tantalum or film capacitors directly from various manufacturers between Jan. 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2013. A full list of included manufacturers is available on the settlement website.

Capacitors are electrical components that store energy in a circuit. These parts are used in creating larger electronics. Direct purchasers may have purchased these components from Matsuo and Chemi-Con.

Plaintiffs in the consolidated class action lawsuit argue numerous electrical parts manufacturers conspired together to artificially raise the cost of capacitors. According to the class action lawsuit, direct purchasers would not have paid that much for capacitors in a fair market. The defendants allegedly fixed the market in their favor through an anti-competitive agreement.

“Defendants conspired by directly and indirectly communicating with each other to implement and effectuate an overarching scheme to control and set the prices of their aluminum, tantalum and film capacitors sold to United States purchasers and purchasers worldwide,” the price-fixing class action lawsuit contends. 

“Defendants also agreed, as part of the cartel, to combine and perform the various acts necessary to achieve the anticompetitive purposes of this scheme, as well as to conceal their activity from public view and regulatory oversight.”

The price-fixing class action includes claims under federal laws such as the Sherman Act and Clayton Act.

Matsuo and Chemi-Con haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to resolve these allegations with a settlement. Matsuo agreed to pay $5 million while Chemi-Con agreed to pay $160 million. 

This is the sixth round of settlements in the direct purchaser consolidated lawsuit. Other settling defendants funded the first five rounds of payments.

Under the terms of the partial settlement, class members can collect a cash payment. Payment amounts will vary depending on the total number of capacitors purchased, the amount each class member purchased and the total settlement amount after fees are deducted. Each class member’s payment will represent their proportional share of the net settlement fund based on the amount of product they purchased.

The deadline for exclusion and objection is July 29, 2022. 

The final approval hearing for the capacitors settlement is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2022.

In order to collect a payment from the settlement, class members must submit a valid claim form by July 29, 2022. Claim forms may require class members to submit records of their qualifying purchases.

Who’s Eligible

The settlement benefits consumers who purchased aluminum, tantalum or film capacitors directly from various manufacturers between Jan. 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2013. A full list of included manufacturers is available on the settlement website.

Potential Award

Varies

Proof of Purchase

May require records of qualifying purchases.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

07/29/2022

Case Name

In re Capacitors Antitrust Lawsuit, Master File No. 3:17-md-02801-JD, Civil Action No. 3:14-cv-03264-JD, in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California

Final Hearing

09/15/2022

Settlement Website

CapacitorsAntitrustSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Notice and Claims Administrator
In re Capacitors Antitrust Lawsuit – 6985
P.O. Box 2563
Faribault, MN 55021-9563
866-903-1223

Class Counsel

Joseph R Saveri
Steven N Williams
Christopher K L Young
JOSEPH SAVERI LAW FIRM LLP

Defense Counsel

PAUL WEISS RIFKIND WHARTON & GARRISON LLP