Detergent makers face collusion fines

European Union regulators are set to fine Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch consumer giant behind Omo and Surf, and Procter & Gamble, the US group behind Ariel and Tide, for fixing detergent prices. Germany's Henkel, which makes Persil and which alerted the European Commission to the cartel, is not expected to be penalised. An announcement is expected tomorrow. The fines are likely to be cut by 10 per cent in return for admissions that the firms participated in the cartel.