Swiss raid Steinway for off-key behaviour

Piano-maker Steinway & Sons today said it would co-operate fully with Swiss competition authorities after its offices in the country were raided yesterday over allegations of price-fixing.

The Swiss Competition Commission said it had evidence which indicated there may have been agreements over sales territories and prices for Steinway pianos which prevented imports of cheaper instruments from neighbouring countries.

“Tip-offs from the Canton of Zurich and further investigations brought evidence to light which suggested undue restrictions on competition,” the Commission said. “In particular this regards agreements concerning the foreclosure of sales territories and prices for instruments from Steinway & Sons, Hamburg.”

The inquiry was prompted by a large order from Zurich university for grand and upright pianos due for delivery next year.

Today the US-based parent company said: “Steinway & Sons so far has no concrete information which competitive behaviour is the subject of the investigation and is not aware of having violated Swiss antitrust law. Steinway & Sons will co-operate with the Swiss authorities to help clarify the facts as soon as possible.”

Steinway was founded in 1853 and is the favoured instrument of nine out of 10 concert pianists. Famous users range from Cole Porter and Sergei Rachmaninoff to present-day performers such as China’s Lang Lang.