The investigation concluded that the defendants had carried out a concerted practice with the object of appreciably restricting competition in the Portuguese cereal milling market by fixing the price of flour, a prohibited practice under Article 4(1)(a) of Law 18/2003 of 11th June. The concerted practice lasted, at least and for some of them, since December 2000, and had as its object the uniform increase in the price of wheat flour on several occasions. This conclusion is based on uniform price increases over time, for which it is not possible, and indeed the defendants have been unable, to provide any plausible alternative explanation based on criteria of economic rationality. On 03.07.2009, a Decision was issued imposing the following fines: Cerealis-Produtos alimentare, S.A. and Cerealis-Moagens S.A. 4,768,906.05; Moagens Ceres- A. Figueiredo & Irmãos, S.A. €1,277,844.00; Granel - Moagens Cereais, S.A. €1,141,991.24; Germen - Moagem de Cereais, S. A.€1,355,001.60; Eduardo e Artur Grlo Pereira, Lda.€36,871.89; Farlis - Fábrica de Farinhas do Lis, Lda.€78,497.61; Abranches & Filhos, Lda.€94,157.81; Carneiro e Campos e companhia , Lda.€58,245.97; Catelas & Teorgas, Lda.€14,119.57; Pitorro - Moagem de Cereais, S.A. €110,347.84