The European Union fined eight pharmaceutical companies, including Aventis SA (formerly Rhône-Poulenc), a total of 855.2 million euros (approximately $752 million) for colluding to fix the price of vitamins between 1989 and 1999. The eight companies had been under investigation since 1999 for colluding to eliminate fair competition for vitamins and overcharging consumers in the European market. Aventis was exempted from fines for its involvement in cartels accused of rigging the market for vitamins A and E because of its cooperation with investigators, but was fined 5.04 million euros (approximately $4 million) for participating in the vitamin D3 cartel.