On January 4, 2013, the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China (the “NDRC”) announced a crackdown against six leading international LCD panel manufacturers (collectively the “Group”), namely Samsung, LG, Chimei, AU Optronics (“AUO”), Chunghwa Picture Tubes (“CPT”) and HannStar, for price-fixing cartel among them from 2001 to 20061. The total penalty imposed against the Group is RMB 353 million. This case is the first enforcement action by China against price-related monopoly activities of firms outside mainland China, and the RMB 353 million penalty is also the largest penalty that China has ever imposed for price-related violations.