Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 1 of 110
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`
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`Joseph R. Saveri (State Bar No. 130064)
`Andrew M. Purdy (State Bar No. 261912)
`JOSEPH SAVERI LAW FIRM, INC.
`505 Montgomery Street, Suite 625
`San Francisco, California 94111
`Telephone:
`(415) 500-6800
`Facsimile:
`(415) 395-9940
`Email:
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`jsaveri@saverilawfirm.com
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`apurdy@saverilawfirm.com
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`mweiler@saverilawfirm.com
`jdallal@saverilawfirm.com
`rmcewan@saverilawfirm.com
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`
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`Interim Direct Purchaser Class Counsel and
`Attorneys for Plaintiffs Chip-Tech, Ltd., Dependable
`Component Supply Corp., eIQ Energy Inc. and
`Walker Component Group, Inc.
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`[Additional Counsel Listed on Signature Page]
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`
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`UNITE D STATES D ISTRI CT COU RT
`NO RTHER N DIST R ICT O F C ALI FO R N IA
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`Master File No. 3:14-cv-03264-JD
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`CONSOLIDATED THIRD AMENDED
`CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT and
`COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
`INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
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`IN RE CAPACITORS ANTITRUST
`LITIGATION
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`THIS DOCUMENT RELATES TO:
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`DIRECT PURCHASER CLASS ACTION;
`FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL USA,
`INC.’S INDIVIDUAL ACTION
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`Master File No. 3:14-cv-03264-JD
`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF
`FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 2 of 110
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`I.
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`NATURE OF THE ACTION ............................................................................................ 5
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`II.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE ........................................................................................ 9
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`III.
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`PARTIES ......................................................................................................................... 10
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`A.
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`B.
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`C.
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`7.
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`8.
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`9.
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`Plaintiffs ...................................................................................................... 10
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`Flextronics International U.S.A., Inc. ......................................................... 10
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`Defendants .................................................................................................. 11
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`Panasonic/SANYO...................................................................................... 11
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`NEC TOKIN ............................................................................................... 12
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`KEMET ....................................................................................................... 12
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`Nippon Chemi-Con ..................................................................................... 13
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`Hitachi ......................................................................................................... 14
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`Fujitsu.......................................................................................................... 15
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`Nichicon ...................................................................................................... 15
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`AVX ............................................................................................................ 17
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`Rubycon ...................................................................................................... 17
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`10.
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`ELNA .......................................................................................................... 18
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`11. Matsuo ......................................................................................................... 18
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`12.
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`TOSHIN KOGYO....................................................................................... 18
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`13.
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`Holy Stone................................................................................................... 19
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`14.
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`Vishay Polytech .......................................................................................... 20
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`15.
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`ROHM ......................................................................................................... 20
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`16.
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`Okaya .......................................................................................................... 21
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`17.
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`Taitsu ........................................................................................................... 21
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`18.
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`Shinyei ........................................................................................................ 22
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`19.
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`Nitsuko ........................................................................................................ 23
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`20.
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`Nissei ........................................................................................................... 23
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`21.
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`Soshin .......................................................................................................... 23
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`22.
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`Shizuki ........................................................................................................ 24
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`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF
`FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 3 of 110
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`23.
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`The Flextronics Defendants ........................................................................ 24
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`IV.
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`CLASS ALLEGATIONS ................................................................................................ 26
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`V.
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`TRADE AND COMMERCE ........................................................................................... 28
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`VI.
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`FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS .......................................................................................... 30
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`A.
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`B.
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`What Capacitors Do and How They Work ................................................. 30
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`Types of Capacitors and Their Uses ........................................................... 31
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`1.
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`Electrolytic Capacitors ................................................................................ 31
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`a.
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`b.
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`Aluminum Capacitors .................................................................. 31
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`Tantalum Capacitors .................................................................... 33
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`2.
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`Electrostatic Capacitors ............................................................................... 34
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`C.
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`D.
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`E.
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`F.
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`a.
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`b.
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`Film Capacitors ............................................................................ 34
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`Ceramic Capacitors ...................................................................... 35
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`The Market Conditions in Which Defendants’ Conspiracy Originated and
`Operated ...................................................................................................... 37
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`Defendants’ Collusive Anticompetitive Practices ...................................... 38
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`Defendants’ Cartel ...................................................................................... 41
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`Meetings Among the Defendant Cartel Members During the Class
`Period .......................................................................................................... 43
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`The Cartel’s Regular Meetings ................................................................... 43
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`Specific Cartel Meetings ............................................................................. 47
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`Other Meetings and Conspiratorial Communications Among Defendants 56
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`a.
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`b.
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`c.
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`d.
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`SANYO’s Meetings and Communications With Other
`Defendants ................................................................................... 57
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`AVX’s Meetings and Communications With Other Defendants . 57
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`KEMET’s Meetings and Dealings With Defendant Cartel
`Members....................................................................................... 59
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`FMD’s Meetings and Dealings With Cartel Members ................ 64
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`G.
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`Defendants’ U.S.-Based Subsidiaries Marketed, Sold and Delivered Their
`Defendant Corporate Parents’ Price-Fixed Capacitors in Furtherance of the
`Capacitors Cartel’s Aims and Purposes ...................................................... 64
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`1.
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`UCC Advanced the Cartel’s Aims and Purposes in the United States for
`Nippon Chemi-Con .................................................................................. 65
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`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
`INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 4 of 110
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`Nichicon America advanced the Cartel’s Aims and Purposes in the United
`States for Nichicon. .................................................................................. 68
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`ROHM USA advanced the Cartel’s Aims and Purposes in the United States
`for ROHM ................................................................................................ 70
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`Okaya America advanced the Cartel’s Aims and Purposes for in the United
`States for Okaya ....................................................................................... 71
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`Shinyei America advanced the Cartel’s Aims and Purposes in the United
`States for Shinyei ..................................................................................... 74
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`Soshin America advanced the Cartel’s Aims and Purposes in the United
`States for Soshin Co. ................................................................................ 75
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`H.
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`Anticompetitive Effects of Defendants’ Capacitors Cartel ......................... 77
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`INDUSTRY CHARACTERISTICS INDICATING AND FACILITATING
`VII.
`DEFENDANTS’ CONSPIRACY .................................................................................... 78
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`A.
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`B.
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`C.
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`D.
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`E.
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`F.
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`G.
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`H.
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`I.
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`Market Concentration ................................................................................. 79
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`High Barriers to Entry ................................................................................. 81
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`Mutual Interchangeability of Defendants’ Capacitors ................................ 83
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`Inelastic Demand......................................................................................... 84
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`Commoditization ......................................................................................... 85
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`Weak Demand ............................................................................................. 86
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`Excess Manufacturing Capacity.................................................................. 86
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`Large Number of Purchasers With Limited Purchasing Power .................. 87
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`Ease of Information Sharing Among Defendants ....................................... 87
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`VIII. CURRENT U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL ANTITRUST INVESTIGATIONS INTO
`ANTICOMPETITIVE PRACTICES IN THE CAPACITORS INDUSTRY .................. 90
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`IX.
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`FRAUDULENT CONCEALMENT ................................................................................ 92
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`X.
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`ADDITIONAL ALLEGATIONS SPECIFIC TO FLEXTRONICS. ............................... 96
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`XI.
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`EFFECTS OF DEFENDANTS’ CONSPIRACY ON U.S. SALES OF ALUMINUM,
`TANTALUM AND FILM CAPACITORS AND INJURY TO THE DIRECT
`PURCHASER CLASS AND FLEXTRONICS ............................................................... 99
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`XII. CLAIMS FOR RELIEF ................................................................................................. 100
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`XIII. DEMAND FOR JUDGMENT ....................................................................................... 102
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`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
`INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 5 of 110
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`Plaintiffs Chip-Tech, Ltd. (“Chip-Tech”), Dependable Component Supply Corp.
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`(“Dependable”), eIQ Energy, Inc. (“eIQ Energy”) and Walker Component Group, Inc. (“Walker,” and
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`together with Chip-Tech, Dependable, and eIQ, “Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs”) each bring this action on
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`behalf of itself and on behalf of a class of all persons and entities similarly situated (the “Class” or the
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`“Direct Purchaser Class”), for damages and injunctive relief under the antitrust laws of the United
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`States against defendants Panasonic Corporation; Panasonic Corporation of North America; SANYO
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`Electric Co., Ltd.; SANYO North America Corporation; NEC TOKIN Corporation; NEC TOKIN
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`America, Inc.; KEMET Corporation; KEMET Electronics Corporation; Nippon Chemi-Con
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`Corporation; United Chemi-Con, Inc.; Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.; Hitachi AIC Inc.; Hitachi Chemical
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`Co. America, Ltd.; Fujitsu Ltd.; Nichicon Corporation; Nichicon (America) Corporation; AVX
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`Corporation; Rubycon Corporation; Rubycon America Inc.; ELNA Co., Ltd.; ELNA America Inc.;
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`Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd.; TOSHIN KOGYO Co., Ltd.; Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Milestone
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`Global Technology, Inc. (D/B/A HolyStone International); Vishay Polytech Co., Ltd.; ROHM Co., Ltd.;
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`ROHM Semiconductor U.S.A., LLC; Okaya Electric Industries Co., Ltd.; Okaya Electric America Inc.;
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`Taitsu Corporation; Taitsu America, Inc.; Shinyei Kaisha; Shinyei Technology Co., Ltd.; Shinyei
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`Capacitor Co., Ltd.; Shinyei Corporation of America, Inc.; Nitsuko Electronics Corporation; Nissei
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`Electric Co., Ltd.; Soshin Electric Co., Ltd.; Soshin Electronics of America, Inc.; Shizuki Electric Co.,
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`Ltd.; and American Shizuki Corporation (collectively, the “Defendants”).
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`Plaintiff Flextronics International USA, Inc., on behalf of itself, its subsidiaries, parents, and
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`affiliated entities, (collectively, “Flextronics”) brings an individual (non-class) action for damages
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`against Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation; United Chemi-Con, Inc.; Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.; Hitachi
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`AIC Inc.; Hitachi Chemical Co. America, Ltd.; Nichicon Corporation; Nichicon (America)
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`Corporation; AVX Corporation; Rubycon Corporation; Rubycon America Inc.; ELNA Co., Ltd.; ELNA
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`America Inc.; Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd.; TOSHIN KOGYO Co., Ltd.; Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd.;
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`Milestone Global Technology, Inc. (D/B/A HolyStone International); ROHM Co., Ltd.; ROHM
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`Semiconductor U.S.A., LLC; Taitsu Corporation; Taitsu America, Inc.; Shinyei Kaisha; Shinyei
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`Technology Co., Ltd.; Shinyei Capacitor Co., Ltd.; Shinyei Corporation of America, Inc.; Nissei
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`4
`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
`INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 6 of 110
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`Electric Co., Ltd.; Soshin Electric Co., Ltd.; Soshin Electronics of America, Inc.; Shizuki Electric Co.,
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`Ltd.; and American Shizuki Corporation (collectively, the “Flextronics Defendants”).
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`The factual allegations herein are made jointly with regard to both the Direct Purchaser and
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`Flextronics except where otherwise noted. Flextronics and the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs allege facts
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`regarding themselves based on personal knowledge, and on information and belief as to all other
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`matters, as follows:
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`I.
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`NATURE OF THE ACTION
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`1.
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`Both the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs and Flextronics bring this civil antitrust action
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`seeking damages for the collusive and concerted restraint of trade in aluminum, tantalum and film
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`capacitors (together, “Capacitors”) orchestrated by the Defendants—all of which are leading
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`manufacturers and direct competitors in the global Capacitors industry—at least as early as January 1,
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`2002 to present (the “Class Period”). The Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs also seek injunctive damages and
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`certification of the class described herein.
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`2.
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`Capacitors are one of the fundamental components found in electrical circuits. All
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`electronic devices in common use today—from the cheapest household appliances to personal
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`computers to multi-million dollar computerized machinery—employ various electrical circuits working
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`in concert to perform their functions. By electrical current (i.e., the aggregate effect of moving
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`electrical charge) flowing through a circuit, the path for which is usually defined by a printed circuit
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`board (“PCB”), electronic signals can be amplified, simple and complex computations can be
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`performed, data can be moved from one place to another, and other tasks can be executed.
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`3.
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`Without the flow of electrical current, circuit boards—as well as the electronic devices
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`that contain them—will not operate. Accordingly, circuits must not only have a source for current, but
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`also means for storing and regulating the flow of that current. While either a battery or a connection to
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`an external power supply typically provides current to a circuit, capacitors are integrated into electrical
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`circuits primarily to store charge and govern its flow so that the tasks and applications of electrical
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`devices have sufficiently available and immediately dischargeable electrical charge to perform when
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`commanded to do so.
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`5
`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
`INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 7 of 110
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`4.
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`As society’s dependence on and consumption of technology has grown, so too has the
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`demand of electronic device manufacturers for the components. Given that capacitors are fundamental
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`to the operation of practically all electronic devices, the market for capacitors is enormous. Capacitors
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`are commodity products sold in large volumes. Indeed, global revenues for all manufacturers in the
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`capacitor industry in 2013 totaled approximately $16 billion based on the sales of trillions of
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`capacitors. Industry analysts estimate that global revenues from the sale of capacitors will reach over
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`$18 billion for the fiscal year 2014 and over $20 billion by 2016.
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`5.
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`Capacitors, however, tend to be relatively inexpensive on a per unit basis. The vast
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`majority of Capacitors cost well under a dollar per unit.
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`6.
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`The Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs allege that Capacitors typically cost as little as a fraction
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`of a cent and that, accordingly, the cost of Capacitors is usually only a relatively small (albeit
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`potentially significant) part of the overall cost of the products containing them.
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`7.
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`The multi-billion dollar market for capacitors is susceptible to anticompetitive
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`manipulation. Given, as alleged in detail below, the significant high barriers to entering the already
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`mature and consolidation-prone capacitors manufacturing industry and achieving the large volume of
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`sales required to reach sufficient economies of scale and profitability on a per unit basis, global sales of
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`capacitors are dominated by a limited number of large manufacturers. These would-be competitors—
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`specifically the Defendants named herein—sell mutually interchangeable commoditized products.
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`Defendants adjust the prices and market availability of their products in concert and based on an
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`overarching agreement to fix, raise, maintain, and/or stabilize prices as described in detail below. These
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`facts indicate that competition between the global sellers of aluminum, tantalum and film capacitors has
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`been suppressed as described below.
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`8.
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`Capacitors of like capacitance, dielectric and form factor are generally mutually
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`interchangeable. Price is therefore the chief differentiation among these products for purchasers.
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`Accordingly, any agreement among Capacitors manufacturers to fix, raise, maintain or stabilize prices,
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`or to reduce the supply of Capacitors, is highly likely to be effective in artificially inflating prices
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`above those that would prevail in a competitive market to the detriment of purchasers both worldwide
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`and in the United States.
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`6
`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
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`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1831 Filed 09/06/17 Page 8 of 110
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`9.
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`The threat of anticompetitive manipulation for the sales of aluminum, tantalum and film
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`capacitors is not a hypothetical concern. Defendant Panasonic Corporation, on behalf of itself and its
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`wholly owned subsidiaries (Panasonic Corporation of North America, SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., and
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`SANYO North America Corporation), has admitted to the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”)
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`that Defendants engaged in price fixing at least as early as January 1, 2003, and Defendants’ cartel
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`activities were undertaken for the purpose of artificially maintaining and inflating prices of aluminum,
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`tantalum and film capacitors sold to United States purchasers and purchasers worldwide. Records of
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`cartel meetings, however, indicate that Defendants’ conspiracy started as early as 2002.
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`10.
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`Defendants took these unlawful steps because: (1) prior to the outset of the conspiracy,
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`competition was reducing margins on Capacitors; and (2) demand for certain types of Capacitors began
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`to wane starting in the early 2000s.
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`11.
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`To bolster the profitability of their respective Capacitors sales, and to slow, negate and
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`reverse the impact on price caused by declining demand, Defendants agreed prior to the beginning of
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`the Class Period to curtail price competition among themselves for their respective mutually
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`interchangeable aluminum, tantalum and film capacitors.
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`12.
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`Given the weak demand for aluminum, tantalum and film capacitors the Defendants
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`manufactured, and the decline in sales and profits they each were facing across their respective
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`Capacitors product lines, Defendants further agreed to collusively set prices for all the Capacitors they
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`produce.
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`13.
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`Accordingly, at least as early as January 1, 2002, Defendants conspired by directly and
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`indirectly communicating with each other to implement and effectuate an overarching scheme to
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`control and set the prices of their aluminum, tantalum and film capacitors sold to United States
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`purchasers and purchasers worldwide. Defendants also agreed, as part of the cartel, to combine and
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`perform the various acts necessary to achieve the anticompetitive purposes of this scheme, as well as to
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`conceal their activity from public view and regulatory oversight.
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`14.
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`The Defendants’ conspiracy was furthered and facilitated by a course of anticompetitive
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`conduct and overt acts, such as making numerous agreements (both written and oral) and reaching
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`understandings among themselves—largely developed during regular monthly, annual and/or bi-annual
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`7
`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
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`meetings among themselves throughout the Class Period—that they would in concert fix, raise,
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`maintain and stabilize prices for aluminum, tantalum and film capacitors.
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`15.
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`Defendants also agreed to restrain their respective Capacitors manufacturing output
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`through extending product lead times and other subterfuge.
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`16.
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`As part of the conspiracy alleged herein, and to assist in achieving its ends, Defendants
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`exchanged amongst themselves nonpublic and commercially sensitive information concerning, among
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`other things, purchaser-specific Capacitors pricing requests, current industry-specific Capacitors
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`pricing requests, current and future Capacitors pricing intentions, timing of pricing changes, production
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`capacity, costs, availability and cost of raw materials, product distribution, and other data that
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`Defendants used to assist in the implementation and enforcement of their conspiracy.
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`17.
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`Defendants concealed their anticompetitive and unlawful conduct from the public and
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`their customers, including the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs, the Direct Purchaser Class, and Flextronics,
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`from the inception of the conspiracy until the spring of 2014, when law enforcement and competition
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`authorities around the globe first publicly acknowledged their respective investigations into
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`anticompetitive conduct in the capacitors industry.
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`18.
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`Defendants’ cartel has been successful in achieving the anticompetitive and unlawful
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`ends for which it was formed. Through their concerted actions, Defendants—the dominant players in
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`the global and U.S. markets for aluminum, tantalum and film capacitors—fixed, raised, maintained
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`and/or stabilized prices of Capacitors during the entirety of the time that the Defendants’ conspiracy has
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`existed. Defendants were effective in moderating, negating and reversing the normal competitive
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`pressures on prices for Capacitors caused by price competition, reduction of demand, technological
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`change and oversupply.
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`19.
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`Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct proximately caused the increase or
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`slowed the decrease of prices for Capacitors sold to United States and worldwide purchasers during the
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`Class Period.
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`20.
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`As a result, Plaintiffs and the Direct Purchaser Class allege that they paid artificially
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`inflated prices for Capacitors. By paying higher prices for Capacitors than those that would have
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`prevailed in a competitive market, Plaintiffs and the Direct Purchaser Class allege that they have been
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`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
`INTERNATIONAL USA, INC.
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`injured in their business and property and continue to suffer such injuries as a direct and proximate
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`result of Defendants’ actions.
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`II.
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`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`21.
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`Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs bring this action on behalf of themselves, as well as on behalf
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`of the Direct Purchaser Class, to recover damages, including treble damages, costs of suit, and
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`reasonable attorney’s fees arising from Defendants’ violations of Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15
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`U.S.C. § 1), as well as any and all equitable relief afforded them under the federal laws pleaded herein.
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`22.
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`Flextronics brings this action on behalf of itself and its related corporate entities,
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`including but not limited to its parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, to recover damages, including treble
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`damages, costs of suit, and reasonable attorney’s fees arising from Defendants’ violations of Section 1
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`of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. § 1).
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`23.
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`This Court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1337(a) and
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`Sections 4 and 16 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 15(a) and 26).
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`24.
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`Jurisdiction and venue are proper in this judicial district pursuant to Section 12 of the
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`Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. § 22), and 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), (c) and (d), because a substantial part of the
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`events giving rise to Plaintiffs’ claims occurred in this District, a substantial portion of the affected
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`interstate trade and commerce was carried out in this District, and one or more of the Defendants reside
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`in this District, is licensed to do business in this District, and/or transacts business in this District.
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`25.
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`In addition, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division is conducting an investigation into the
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`capacitors industry out of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Northern California. A
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`federal criminal grand jury has been empaneled in the Northern District of California to hear the DOJ’s
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`evidence derived from its investigation and ultimately to decide on whether to indict any Capacitors
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`manufacturers (such as one or more of the Defendants in this antitrust class action) criminally. The
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`Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs and Class allege that the DOJ’s San Francisco-based Capacitors industry
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`investigation and the empanelment of a grand jury in this District both confirm the propriety of the
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`Northern District of California as the venue for this antitrust class action.
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`26.
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`Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 3.2 (c) and (e), assignment of this case to the San Francisco
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`Division of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California is proper because the
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`THIRD AMENDED CONSOLIDATED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT AND COMPLAINT OF FLEXTRONICS
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`interstate trade and commerce involved and affected by Defendants’ violations of the antitrust laws
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`action was substantially conducted with, directed to or impacted Plaintiffs and members of the Direct
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`Purchaser Class in counties located within the Division.
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`III.
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`PARTIES
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`A.
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`Plaintiffs
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`27.
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`Plaintiff Chip-Tech, Ltd. is a New York corporation with its principal place of business
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`located at 6 Dubon Court, Farmingdale, New York 11735. Chip-Tech directly purchased Capacitors
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`from one or more Defendants during the Class Period, and has suffered injury as a result of Defendants’
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`anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
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`28.
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`Plaintiff Dependable Component Supply Corporation is a Florida corporation with its
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`principal place of business located at 1003 East Newport Center Drive, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442.
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`Dependable directly purchased Capacitors from one or more Defendants during the Class Period, and
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`has suffered injury as a result of Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
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`29.
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`Plaintiff eIQ Energy, Inc. is a California corporation with its principal place of business
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`at 294 Brokaw Road, Santa Clara, California 95050. eIQ Energy directly purchased certain types of
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`Capacitors from one or more Defendants during the Class Period, and has suffered injury as a result of
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`Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
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`30.
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`Plaintiff Walker Component Group, Inc. is a Colorado corporation with its principal
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`place of business located at 420 East 58th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80216. Walker directly purchased
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`Capacitors from one or more Defendants during the Class Period, and has suffered injury as a result of
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`Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
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`B.
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`Flextronics International U.S.A., Inc.
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`31.
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`Plaintiff Flextronics International U.S.A., Inc. (“Flextronics”) is a California corporation
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`with its principal place of business located at 6201 America Center Drive, San Jose, California 95002.
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`Flextronics manufactures electronic products and other goods at locations around the world, including
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`in the United States. Flextronics directly purchases Capacitors for the purpose of manufacturing
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`electronic products for United States-based customers and by United States end-users. Flextronics’s
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`products are sold for consumer, medical, automotive, aerospace, and defense applications, among
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`others. Flextronics directly purchased Capacitors from one or more Defendants during the Class Period,
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`and has suffered injury as a result of the Flextronics Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
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`Flextronics brings its action against the Flextronics Defendants individually, not in a representative
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`capacity on behalf of the putative class alleged by the Direct Purchaser class herein.
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`C.
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`Defendants
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`1.
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`Panasonic/SANYO
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`32.
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`Defendant Panasonic Corporation is a Japanese corporation with its principal place of
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`business located at 1006, Oaza Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka 571-8501, Japan. Until October 1, 2008,
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`Panasonic Corporation operated under th