German bathroom giant Grohe says its sales for the first half of 2010 are up by nearly a quarter and earnings by over 50%.

Sales hit €490 million (£415m) by the end of June and earnings €97m.
 
The company has also said that it will pay the €54.8m fine dished out by the EU investigation into price fixing that revealed its conclusions in June. However, in its trading statement, Grohe said it had been anticipating the fine and had taken "precautionary measures and made provisions."
 
"The investigation began prior to the appointment of the current Grohe management...[which has] implemented a company-wide Code of Business Conduct and has always claimed best practice standards since then," it continues. "The global compliance programme also includes regular training on anti-trust and competition matters which are subject to a zero tolerance policy at Grohe."

Some of the other companies embroiled in the investigation have not been so accommodating, Villeroy & Boch chief executive Frank Goring has branded it "absolutely incomprehensible" and says the final decision "borders on arbitrariness". Likewise Duravit bos Franz Kook said "we do not understand the ruling and will also not accept it" and Roca said it "completely rejects the charge made against it."
 
Grohe, it seems, is concentrating on growth with a €1.3m investment in the expansion of a new research and development centre in Hemer as well as hiring another 300 people for its global sales operation.

There is also another factory under construction in Thailand which will open within 12 months. This represents a €25m investment by Grohe.