241However, it is clear from the case-law that the Commission is entitled to use the overall turnover of each undertaking participating in a cartel as a criterion relevant for the purpose of setting a deterrence multiplier (see, to that effect, Case C‑289/04 P Showa Denko v Commission [2006] ECR I‑5859, paragraphs 17 and 18). Thus, the size and overall resources of an undertaking are relevant criteria in view of the objective pursued, namely ensuring that the fine is effective by adjusting its amount having regard to the overall resources of the undertaking and its capacity to raise the funds necessary to pay that fine. The setting of the rate of increase of the starting amount in order to ensure that the fine has a sufficiently deterrent effect is intended more to ensure the effectiveness of the fine than to reflect the harmfulness of the infringement to normal competition and thus the gravity of the infringement (Lafarge v Commission, paragraph 239 above, paragraph 672).
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