Akzo Nobel reaches antitrust violation agreement.

Akzo Nobel, Arnhem, the Netherlands, has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Justice regarding a past antitrust violation involving the fixing of prices in the U.S. hydrogen peroxide market. Per the agreement, Akzo Nobel has pleaded guilty to the charge and will pay a $32 million fine. The company's involvement in the case began in 1998, two years before it reportedly intensified its antitrust compliance program. According to Akzo Nobel, it has "cooperated extensively with the authorities regarding any suspected violations" since 2000.