throbber
Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 1 of 80
`
`
`
`BILZIN SUMBERG BAENA PRICE & AXELROD LLP
`Robert W. Turken (pro hac vice)
`Scott N. Wagner (pro hac vice)
`Lori P. Lustrin (pro hac vice)
`Shalia M. Sakona (pro hac vice)
`Jerry R. Goldsmith (pro hac vice)
`1450 Brickell Avenue
`Suite 2300
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`Telephone: (305) 374-7580
`Email: rturken@bilzin.com
`Email: swagner@bilzin.com
`Email: llustrin@bilzin.com
`Email: ssakona@bilzin.com
`Email: jgoldsmith@bilzin.com
`
`FENNEMORE CRAIG, P.C.
`Amy Abdo (No. 016346)
`2394 E. Camelback Road, Suite 600
`Phoenix, AZ 85016-3429
`Telephone: (602) 916-5000
`Email: aabdo@fclaw.com
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff Avnet, Inc.
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRI CT COURT
`
`DISTRICT OF ARIZONA
`
`AMENDED COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
`
`Avnet, Inc.,
`
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`vs.
`
`Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.;
`Hitachi AIC Inc.;
`Hitachi Chemical Co. America, Ltd.; ELNA
`Co., Ltd.; ELNA America Inc.;
`Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd.; TOSHIN KOGYO
`Co., Ltd.; Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd.;
`Milestone Global Technology, Inc. (D/B/A
`Holystone International); Okaya Electric
`Industries Co., Ltd.; Okaya Electric America
`Inc.; Taitsu Corporation; Taitsu America, Inc.;
`Shinyei Kaisha; Shinyei Technology Co.,
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 2 of 80
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`
`
`Ltd.; Shinyei Capacitor Co., Ltd.; Shinyei
`Corporation of America, Inc.; Nitsuko
`Electronics Corporation; Nissei Electric Co.,
`Ltd.; Shizuki Electric Co., Inc.; Soshin
`Electric Co., Ltd.; Soshin Electronics of
`America, Inc.; Nippon Chemi-Con
`Corporation; United Chemi-Con, Inc.;
`Nichicon Corporation; Nichicon (America)
`Corporation; Rubycon Corporation; and
`Rubycon America Inc.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Defendants.
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 3 of 80
`
`
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`Plaintiff, Avnet, Inc., brings this action for damages under the antitrust laws of the
`
`United States against defendants Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.; Hitachi AIC Inc.; Hitachi
`
`Chemical Co. America, Ltd.; ELNA Co., Ltd.; ELNA America Inc.; Matsuo Electric Co.,
`
`Ltd.; TOSHIN KOGYO., Ltd.; Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Milestone Global
`
`Technology, Inc. (D/B/A HolyStone International); Okaya Electric Industries Co., Ltd.;
`
`Okaya Electric America Inc.; Taitsu Corporation; Taitsu America, Inc.; Shinyei Kaisha;
`
`Shinyei Technology Co., Ltd.; Shinyei Capacitor Co., Ltd.; Shinyei Corporation of
`
`America, Inc.; Nitsuko Electronics Corporation; Nissei Electric Co., Ltd.; Shizuki
`
`Electric Co., Inc.; Soshin Electric Co., Ltd.; Soshin Electronics of America, Inc.; Nippon
`
`Chemi-Con Corporation; United Chemi-Con, Inc.; Nichicon Corporation; Nichicon
`
`(America) Corporation; Rubycon Corporation; and Rubycon America Inc. (collectively,
`
`the “Defendants”), and alleges as follows:
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`1.
`
`Defendants and their co-conspirators (together, “Conspirators”)
`
`formed an
`
`international cartel
`
`that conducted a
`
`long-running conspiracy (the
`
`“Conspiracy”) that extended from at least November 2001 through at least January 2014
`
`(the “Conspiracy Period”). The purpose and effect of this conspiracy was to fix, stabilize,
`
`and maintain prices for aluminum, tantalum, and film capacitors (together, “Affected
`
`19
`
`Capacitors”).
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`2.
`
`Capacitors are integral components found in virtually all electronic
`
`devices—from simple household appliances, to computers, automobiles and sophisticated
`
`industrial, telecommunication, medical, and aerospace technology products. Capacitors
`
`store electrical energy and help regulate the flow of the electrical current as it moves
`
`24
`
`through a circuit.
`
`3.
`
`Because the functions of capacitors are fundamental to the operation
`
`of practically all electronic devices, capacitors are sold in large volume and demand is
`
`immense. In 2003, global revenues for all manufacturers in the capacitor industry totaled
`
`approximately $16 billion based on the sales of trillions of capacitors. Industry analysts
`
`
`
`1
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 4 of 80
`
`
`
`estimate that global revenues from the sale of capacitors will reach over $20 billion by
`
`2016.
`
`4.
`
`In spite of their critical functions, the vast majority of capacitors are
`
`very small—sometimes the size of a pencil point—and typically cost no more than a few
`
`cents, and often as little as a fraction of a cent. Capacitors of like capacitance, dielectric,
`
`and form factor also are generally interchangeable despite different manufacturers. As a
`
`result, the price of these products is the primary differentiation for purchasers.
`
`5.
`
`The commoditized nature of capacitors in conjunction with the
`
`mature nature of the industry, significantly high barriers to entry, and necessary
`
`economies of scale,
`
`rendered
`
`the capacitors market especially susceptible
`
`to
`
`anticompetitive manipulation. This allowed and enabled the efforts by Conspirators to
`
`raise, maintain, or stabilize prices, or to reduce the supply of Affected Capacitors, which
`
`artificially inflated prices above those that would prevail in a competitive market.
`
`6.
`
`In the advent of the Conspiracy Period, Conspirators had begun to
`
`experience reduced profit margins as a result of increased competition among
`
`manufacturers of Affected Capacitors and the rise in popularity of considerably cheaper
`
`ceramic capacitors. To bolster the profitability of their respective Affected Capacitors
`
`sales, and to negate the impact of declining demand on price, Conspirators—commencing
`
`as early as November 2001 and continuing throughout the Conspiracy Period—combined,
`
`conspired, and agreed to curtail competition of Affected Capacitors among themselves by
`
`fixing prices, allocating customers
`
`through bid-rigging, and constraining
`
`their
`
`manufacturing output.
`
`7.
`
`These anti-competitive agreements and understandings were reached
`
`during regular and ad hoc group and bilateral meetings and communications during which
`
`Conspirators discussed and coordinated strategy for achieving their desired anti-
`
`competitive ends.
`
` Conspirators agreed at
`
`these meetings and
`
`through
`
`these
`
`communications to uniformly price their competing Affected Capacitors in order to
`
`
`
`2
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 5 of 80
`
`
`
`increase profitability. They also discussed how to justify and convey their collusive
`
`manufacturing, delivery, and pricing changes to customers and the market.
`
`8.
`
`Both in the course of these live meetings, as well as through written
`
`and oral communications, Conspirators exchanged confidential and commercially
`
`sensitive information regarding Affected Capacitors, including customer and industry-
`
`specific price requests, current and future prices, anticipated timing of pricing changes,
`
`sales volume, production capacity, production lead times, profitability, and availability
`
`and cost of raw materials. Conspirators used this data to determine concerted prices,
`
`allocate customers, and otherwise facilitate the Conspiracy.
`
`9.
`
`Conspirators
`
`adhered
`
`to
`
`these
`
`collusive
`
`agreements
`
`and
`
`understandings as they issued bids and price announcements and “negotiated” prices with
`
`their customers—selling Affected Capacitors at
`
`inflated non-competitive prices
`
`throughout the Conspiracy period.
`
`10. Competitors for common customers coordinated their respective bids
`
`to secure mutual market shares consistent with their production capacities, agreeing in
`
`advance which seller should win the bid and what their respective initial and final offers
`
`should be to guarantee that outcome. Conspirators urged one another “not to give in” to
`
`customers’ requests for price reductions, and to avoid being drawn in to “price wars.”
`
`11.
`
`Through
`
`their collusive, anticompetitive actions, Conspirators
`
`effectively negated, and reversed the normal economic benefits of increased competition,
`
`and thus cost their customers, including Plaintiff, hundreds of millions of dollars in
`
`overcharges.
`
`12. Meanwhile, Defendants took pains to conceal their anticompetitive
`
`and unlawful conduct from their customers, regulators, and the public. The Conspiracy
`
`remained an international secret until the spring of 2014, when law enforcement and
`
`competition authorities around the globe first publicly acknowledged their respective
`
`investigations into anticompetitive conduct in the capacitors industry. By that time,
`
`
`
`3
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 6 of 80
`
`
`
`customers like Plaintiff had been paying artificially inflated prices for Affected Capacitors
`
`for approximately 17 years.
`
`13.
`
`In 2014, Conspirator Panasonic Corporation, on behalf of itself and
`
`certain of
`
`its wholly-owned subsidiaries admitted
`
`to
`
`the U.S. Department of
`
`Justice (“DOJ”) that Conspirators engaged in a conspiracy to fix the prices of Affected
`
`Capacitors beginning no later than January 1, 2003 and that Conspirators’ cartel activities
`
`were undertaken for the purpose of artificially maintaining and inflating prices of
`
`aluminum, tantalum, and film capacitors sold to United States purchasers and purchasers
`
`worldwide.
`
`14. On September 2, 2015, the DOJ filed an Information charging
`
`Conspirator NEC TOKIN Corporation with “knowingly” joining and participating in a
`
`conspiracy violating Section 1 of the Sherman Act by entering into and engaging in a
`
`combination and conspiracy “to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing and rigging
`
`bids of certain electrolytic capacitors in the United States and elsewhere” from “at least as
`
`early as April 2002 until in or about December 2013.” In addition, the Information dated
`
`the Conspiracy from “at least as early as September 1997” until “in or about January
`
`2014.” On January 25, 2016, NEC TOKIN Corporation pleaded guilty to conspiracy to
`
`fix the prices of electrolytic capacitors as charged in the Information.
`
`15. On April 7, 2016, the DOJ announced that Hitachi Chemical Co.,
`
`Ltd. agreed to plead guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix prices for electrolytic
`
`capacitors sold to customers in the United States and elsewhere. Like the DOJ’s
`
`Information against NEC TOKIN, the DOJ’s Information against Hitachi also dated the
`
`Conspiracy from “at least as early as September 1997” until “in or about January 2014.”
`
`The Information charged Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. with “knowingly” joining and
`
`participating in a conspiracy with its competitors between 2002 and 2010. On June 9,
`
`2016, Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. pleaded guilty to conspiring to fix the prices of
`
`electrolytic capacitors as charged in the Information.
`
`
`
`4
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 7 of 80
`
`
`
`16. On August 22, 2016, the DOJ announced that Rubycon Corporation
`
`had agreed to plead guilty for conspiring to fix prices for electrolytic capacitors sold to
`
`customers in the United States and elsewhere. The DOJ’s Information against Rubycon
`
`Corporation charged the company with conspiring with its competitors to fix prices and
`
`rig bids for certain electrolytic capacitors in the United States and elsewhere. The
`
`Information charged that Rubycon Corporation “knowingly joined and participated in the
`
`charged conspiracy from at least as early as August 2002 until in or about January 2014.
`
`In addition, the Information dated the Conspiracy from “at least as early as September
`
`1997” until “in or about January 2014.” On October 12, 2016, Rubycon Corporation
`
`pleaded guilty to conspiring to fix the prices of electrolytic capacitors as charged in the
`
`Information.
`
`17. On August 22, 2016, the DOJ also announced that ELNA Co., Ltd.
`
`had agreed to plead guilty for conspiring to fix prices for electrolytic capacitors sold to
`
`customers in the United States and elsewhere. The DOJ’s Information against ELNA Co.,
`
`Ltd. charged the company with conspiring with its competitors to fix prices and rig bids
`
`for certain electrolytic capacitors in the United States and elsewhere. The Information
`
`charged that ELNA Co., Ltd. “knowingly joined and participated in the charged
`
`conspiracy from at least as early as August 2002 until in or about January 2014. In
`
`addition, the Information dated the Conspiracy from “at least as early as September 1997”
`
`until “in or about January 2014.” On October 12, 2017, ELNA Co., Ltd. pleaded guilty to
`
`conspiring to fix the prices of electrolytic capacitors as charged in the Information.
`
`18. On August 22, 2016, the DOJ also announced that Holy Stone
`
`Holdings Co., Ltd. had agreed to plead guilty for conspiring to fix prices for electrolytic
`
`capacitors sold to customers in the United States and elsewhere. The DOJ’s Information
`
`against Holy Stone Holdings Co., Ltd. charged the company with conspiring with its
`
`competitors to fix prices and rig bids for certain electrolytic capacitors in the United States
`
`and elsewhere. The Information charged that Holy Stone Holdings Co., Ltd. “knowingly
`
`joined and participated in the charged conspiracy from in or about April 2010 until in or
`
`
`
`5
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 8 of 80
`
`
`
`about January 2014.” In addition, the Information dated the conspiracy from “at least as
`
`early as September 1997” until “in or about January 2014.” On October 12, 2017, Holy
`
`Stone Holdings Co., Ltd. pleaded guilty to conspiring to fix the prices of electrolytic
`
`capacitors as charged in the Information.
`
`19. On February 8, 2017, the DOJ announced that Matsuo Electric Co.,
`
`Ltd. had agreed to plead guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix prices and rig bids for
`
`electrolytic capacitors sold to customers in the United States and elsewhere. The DOJ’s
`
`Information charged that Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd “knowingly joined and participated in
`
`the charged conspiracy from at least as early as November 2001 until in or about January
`
`2014.” The Information dated the conspiracy from “at least as early as September 1997”
`
`until “in or about January 2014.” On October 26, 2017, Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd. pleaded
`
`guilty to conspiring to fix the prices of electrolytic capacitors as charged in the
`
`Information.
`
`20. On July 11, 2017, the DOJ announced that Nichicon Corporation had
`
`agreed to plead guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix prices and rig bids for
`
`electrolytic capacitors sold to customers in the United States and elsewhere. The DOJ’s
`
`Information charged that Nichicon Corporation “knowingly joined and participated in the
`
`charged conspiracy from at least as early as November 2001 until in or about December
`
`2011.” The Information dated the conspiracy from “at least as early as September 1997”
`
`until “in or about January 2014.” On November 9, 2017, Nichicon Corporation pleaded
`
`guilty to conspiring to fix the prices of electrolytic capacitors as charged in the
`
`Information.
`
`21. On October 18, 2017, the DOJ announced that a federal grand jury
`
`had returned an indictment against Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation. The DOJ’s
`
`Information charged that Nippon Chemi-Con Corporation had “[f]rom at least as early as
`
`September 1997 and continuing until in or about January 2004 … knowingly entered into
`
`and engaged in a combination and conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition by
`
`
`
`6
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 9 of 80
`
`
`
`fixing prices and rigging bids for electrolytic capacitors in the United States and
`
`elsewhere.”
`
`22.
`
`In addition to the corporate defendants, the DOJ has also charged ten
`
`of the Conspirators’ executives with conspiring to fix prices and rig bids for electrolytic
`
`capacitors.
`
`23. During
`
`the Conspiracy Period, Plaintiff purchased Affected
`
`Capacitors in the United States directly from certain Conspirators, and, as a result of the
`
`Conspiracy, paid higher prices than would have prevailed in a competitive market.
`
`Plaintiff thus has suffered damages as a consequence of the Conspiracy, and brings this
`
`action to recover the overcharges it paid for the Affected Capacitors it purchased during
`
`the Conspiracy Period.
`
`II.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`24.
`
`Plaintiff brings this action to recover damages, including treble
`
`damages under Section 4 of the Clayton Act, costs of suit, and reasonable attorneys’ fees
`
`arising from Defendants’ price-fixing and bid-rigging in violation of Section 1 of the
`
`Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. § 1).
`
`25.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to
`
`Section 4 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 15(a)) and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 1337.
`
`26.
`
`The activities of Defendants and their co-conspirators, as described
`
`herein, involved U.S. import trade or commerce and/or were within the flow of, were
`
`intended to, and did have a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on United
`
`States domestic and import trade or commerce. This effect gives rise to Plaintiff’s
`
`antitrust claims. During the Conspiracy Period, the Conspiracy directly and substantially
`
`affected the price of Affected Capacitors purchased in the United States.
`
`27.
`
`This Court has jurisdiction over each Defendant named in this action
`
`under Section 12 of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. § 22). In addition, Defendants and their
`
`co-conspirators purposefully availed themselves of the laws of the United States as they
`
`
`
`7
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 10 of 80
`
`
`manufactured Affected Capacitors for sale in the United States, and their conspiratorial
`
`conduct had a substantial effect on interstate and foreign trade and commerce.
`
`28. Venue is proper in the District of Arizona under Section 12 of the
`
`Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. § 22) and 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b), (c) and (d) because a substantial
`
`part of the events giving rise to Plaintiff’s claim occurred in this District, a substantial
`
`portion of the affected interstate trade and commerce was carried out in this District, and
`
`one or more of the Defendants reside in this District, is licensed to do business in this
`
`District, and/or transacts business in this District.
`
`III. PARTIES
`
`A.
`
`Plaintiff
`
`29.
`
`Plaintiff, Avnet, Inc., is a New York corporation with its principal
`
`place of business in Phoenix, Arizona. Plaintiff is a major U.S. distributor of electronic
`
`components, including capacitors. Plaintiff directly purchased Affected Capacitors from
`
`certain Conspirators during the Conspiracy Period, and has suffered antitrust injury as a
`
`result of Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
`
`30. On October 17, 2016, Plaintiff acquired in whole Premier Farnell
`
`PLC (“Premier Farnell”). Premier Farnell is a British corporation with its principal place
`
`of business in Leeds, UK. Premier Farnell is a major global and U.S. distributor of
`
`electronics components. Premier Farnell directly purchased Affected Capacitors from
`
`certain Conspirators during the Conspiracy Period, and has suffered antitrust injury as a
`
`result of Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
`
`31. Newark element14 is an Indiana corporation with its principal place
`
`of business in Chicago, Illinois. Newark element14 is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
`
`Premier Farnell. Newark element14 distributes electronics components throughout the
`
`United States, Mexico, and Canada. Newark element14 directly purchased Affected
`
`Capacitors from certain Conspirators during the Conspiracy Period, and suffered antitrust
`
`injury as a result of Defendants’ anticompetitive and unlawful conduct.
`
`
`
`8
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 11 of 80
`
`
`32.
`
`Premier Farnell and Newark element14 have assigned to Plaintiff all
`
`of their antitrust claims arising out of or related to their purchase of Affected Capacitors
`
`during the Conspiracy period.
`
`B.
`
`Defendants
`
`i. Hitachi
`
`33. Defendant Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Hitachi Chemical”), is a
`
`Japanese corporation with its principal place of business located at Grantokyo South
`
`Tower, 1-9-2, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-6606, Japan. During the Conspiracy
`
`Period, Hitachi Chemical manufactured, sold, and distributed aluminum, tantalum, and
`
`film capacitors either directly or through its business units, subsidiaries, agents, or
`
`affiliates to United States purchasers.
`
`34. Defendant Hitachi AIC Inc. (“Hitachi AIC”), a Japanese corporation,
`
`is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical with its principal place of business
`
`located at 1065, Kugeta, Moka-Shi Tochigi 321-4521, Japan. During the Conspiracy
`
`Period, Hitachi AIC—either directly or through its divisions, business units, subsidiaries,
`
`agents, or affiliates—sold and distributed to United States purchasers aluminum, tantalum,
`
`and film capacitors manufactured by its own business units, subsidiaries, agents, or
`
`affiliates or those of its corporate parent, Hitachi Chemical.
`
`35.
`
`In or about December 2009, Hitachi AIC sold its tantalum and
`
`niobium capacitors division to Defendant Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd. The acquisition
`
`was completed on or about April 1, 2010, and the tantalum and niobium capacitors
`
`division was renamed Holy Stone Polytech Co., Ltd. (“Holy Stone Polytech”), a Japanese
`
`corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd.
`
`36. Defendant Hitachi Chemical Co. America, Ltd. (“Hitachi Chemical
`
`America”), a New York corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi Chemical
`
`with its principal place of business located at 10080 North Wolfe Road, Suite SW3-200,
`
`Cupertino, California 95014. During the Conspiracy Period, Hitachi Chemical America—
`
`either directly or through its business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates—sold and
`
`
`
`9
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 12 of 80
`
`
`distributed to United States purchasers aluminum and tantalum capacitors manufactured
`
`by business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates of its corporate parent, Hitachi
`
`Chemical (including, without limitation, Hitachi AIC).
`
`37. Defendants Hitachi Chemical, Hitachi AIC, and Hitachi Chemical
`
`America are together referred to herein as “Hitachi.”
`
`ii. ELNA
`
`38. Defendant ELNA Co., Ltd. (“ELNA Co.”), is a Japanese corporation
`
`with its principal place of business located at 3-8-11 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku,
`
`Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture 222-0033, Japan. During the Conspiracy Period, ELNA
`
`Co. manufactured, sold, and distributed aluminum, tantalum, and film capacitors either
`
`directly or through its business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates, to United States
`
`purchasers.
`
`39. Defendant ELNA America Inc., (“ELNA America”) a California
`
`corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ELNA Co. with its principal place of
`
`business located at 879 West 190th Street, Suite 100, Gardena, California 90248. During
`
`the Conspiracy Period, ELNA America—either directly or through its business units,
`
`subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates—sold and distributed to United States purchasers
`
`aluminum, tantalum, and film capacitors manufactured by business units, subsidiaries,
`
`agents, or affiliates of its corporate parent, ELNA Co.
`
`40. Defendants ELNA Co. and ELNA America are together referred to
`
`herein as “ELNA.”
`
`iii. Matsuo
`
`41. Defendant Matsuo Electric Co., Ltd. (“Matsuo”) is a Japanese
`
`corporation with its principal place of business located at 3-5- Sennari-cho, Toyonaka-shi,
`
`Osaka 561-8558, Japan. During the Conspiracy Period, Matsuo manufactured, sold, and
`
`distributed aluminum, tantalum, and film capacitors either directly or through its business
`
`units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates to United States purchasers.
`
`iv. TOSHIN KOGYO
`
`
`
`10
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 13 of 80
`
`
`42. Defendant TOSHIN KOGYO Co., Ltd. (“TOSHIN KOGYO”) is a
`
`Japanese corporation with its principal place of business at Tsukasa Bldg. 2-15-4,
`
`Uchikanda Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. During the Conspiracy Period, TOSHIN KOGYO
`
`manufactured, sold, and distributed aluminum, tantalum, and film capacitors either
`
`directly or through its business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates, to United States
`
`purchasers.
`
`v. Holy Stone
`
`43. Defendant Holy Stone Enterprise Co., Ltd. (“Holy Stone Enterprise”)
`
`is a Taiwanese corporation with its principal place of business at 1 Floor, No. 62, Sec. 2,
`
`Huang Shan Road, Nei Hu District, Taipei, Taiwan. During the Conspiracy Period, Holy
`
`Stone Enterprise manufactured, sold, and distributed tantalum capacitors, either directly or
`
`through its business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates to United States purchasers.
`
`44.
`
`In or about December 2009, Holy Stone Enterprise publicly
`
`announced its acquisition of Hitachi AIC’s tantalum and niobium capacitors division. The
`
`acquisition was completed on or about April 1, 2010, and that division was operated under
`
`the name of Holy Stone Polytech.
`
`45. Defendant Milestone Global Technology, Inc. (“Milestone”)—which
`
`does business as HolyStone International (“HolyStone International”), an entity which
`
`Holystone Enterprise publicly claims to be a “subsidiary company” of Holy Stone
`
`Enterprise and its “direct sales office for North America”—is a California corporation
`
`with its principal place of business located at 27475 Ynez Road #288, Temecula,
`
`California 92591.
`
`46.
`
`From in or about December 2009, Milestone, doing business as
`
`HolyStone International—either directly or through its business units, subsidiaries, agents,
`
`or affiliates—sold and distributed to United States purchasers tantalum capacitors
`
`manufactured by business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates of its corporate parent,
`
`Holy Stone Enterprise (including, without limitation, Holy Stone Polytech).
`
`
`
`11
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 14 of 80
`
`
`47. Holy Stone Enterprise, Holy Stone Polytech and Milestone, doing
`
`business as HolyStone International, are together referred to herein as “Holy Stone.”
`
`vi. Okaya
`
`48. Defendant Okaya Electric Industries Co., Ltd. (“Okaya Co.”) is a
`
`Japanese corporation with its principal place of business located at 16-9, Todoroki 6
`
`chome, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 158-8543, Japan. During the Conspiracy Period, Okaya Co.
`
`manufactured, sold, and distributed film capacitors either directly or through its business
`
`units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates to United States purchasers.
`
`49. Defendant Okaya Electric America Inc. (“Okaya America”), an
`
`Indiana corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Okaya Co. with its principal place of
`
`business located at 52 Marks Road, Suite 1, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383. During the
`
`Conspiracy Period, Okaya America—either directly or through its business units,
`
`subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates—sold and distributed to United States purchasers film
`
`capacitors manufactured by business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates of its
`
`corporate parent, Okaya Co.
`
`50. Defendants Okaya Co. and Okaya America are together referred to
`
`herein as “Okaya.”
`
`vii. Taitsu
`
`51. Defendant Taitsu Corporation (“Taitsu Corp.”) is a Japanese
`
`corporation with its principal place of business located at 2-23-20, Kizuki, Nakahara-ku,
`
`Kawasaki, Kanagawa 211-0025, Japan. During the Conspiracy Period, Taitsu Corp.
`
`manufactured, sold, and distributed film capacitors either directly or through its business
`
`units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates to United States purchasers.
`
`52. Defendant Taitsu America, Inc. (“Taitsu America”), a California
`
`corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taitsu Corp. with its principal place of
`
`business located at 6160 Mission Gorge Road, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92120.
`
`During the Conspiracy Period, Taitsu America—either directly or through its business
`
`units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates—sold and distributed to United States purchasers
`
`
`
`12
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`9
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`30
`
`31
`
`32
`
`Miami, FL 33131-3456
`
`1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 2300
`
`Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
`
`

`

`Case 3:14-cv-03264-JD Document 1987 Filed 12/21/17 Page 15 of 80
`
`
`film capacitors manufactured by business units, subsidiaries, agents, or affiliates of its
`
`corporate parent, Taitsu Corp.
`
`53. Defendants Taitsu Corp. and Taitsu America are together referred to
`
`herein as “Taitsu.”
`
`viii.
`
`Shinyei
`
`54. Defendant Shinyei Kaisha (“Shinyei Kaisha”)
`
`is a Japanese
`
`corporation with its principal place of business located at 77-1 Kyomachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe
`
`651-0178, Japan. During the Conspiracy Period, Shinyei Kaisha manufactured, sold, and
`
`distributed film capacitors either directly or through its business units, subsidiaries, agents,
`
`or affiliates to United States purchasers.
`
`55. Defendant Shinyei Technology Co., Ltd. (“Shinyei Tech”) is a
`
`Japanese corporation and a corporate affiliate of Shinyei Kaisha with its principal place of
`
`business located at 77-1 Kyomachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0178, Japan. Until February
`
`2011, Shinyei Tech—either directly or through its business units, subsidiaries, agents, or
`
`affiliates—manufactured, sold, and distributed to United

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket