The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has launched an investigation into nine companies and the Italian Association of Electrical Cable and Conductor Industries (AICE) for alleged collusion in the production and sale of low-voltage copper cables.
The firms under scrutiny include Bruno Baldassari & F.lli S.p.A, General Cavi S.p.A., ICEL S.c.p.A., IRCE S.p.A., La Triveneta Cavi S.p.A., Mondini Cavi S.p.A., Pecso Cavi S.r.l., Prysmian Cavi e Sistemi Italia S.r.l., and AICE.
The AGCM suspects these companies, with AICE’s coordination, have aligned price lists and first-discount rates for distributors since 2005. Additionally, since late 2008, they allegedly implemented a joint pricing adjustment mechanism—dubbed the “Sales System”—to respond to fluctuations in copper costs.
The investigation was triggered by a leniency application from one of the involved companies, which disclosed the alleged arrangement in exchange for potential penalty reductions.
On December 11, AGCM officials, assisted by the Antitrust Special Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, conducted inspections at the headquarters of the accused firms, two multi-brand cable distributors, and the National Federation of Electrical Material Distributors (FME).
Source: https://www.agcm.it/dotcmsdoc/allegati-news/I873_avvio.pdf
