Intel loses appeal against €1.06bn fine by EU

US chipmaker Intel yesterday lost its challenge against a record €1.06bn EU fine handed down five years ago, as Europe’s second highest court said regulators did not act too harshly.

The European Commission in its 2009 decision said Intel tried to thwart rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) by giving rebates to computer makers Dell, Hewlett-Packard, NEC and Lenovo for buying most of their computer chips from Intel.

The EU competition authority said Intel also paid German retail chain Media Saturn Holding to stock only computers with its chips.