In a decision published on June 13, 2022, the ICA cleared the acquisition of 51% of the share capital of Press-Di Distribuzione Stampa e Multimedia S.r.l. (“Press-Di” or the “Target”) by Artoni Group S.p.A. (“Artoni”) and SHR S.r.l. (“SHR” and, jointly, the “Parties”). As a result, the Parties acquired joint control over the Target together with the seller Mondadori Media S.p.A. (the “Transaction”).[1]
On June 9, 2022, the Council of State upheld appeals submitted by Media Partners & Silva Limited and MP Silva S.r.l. (jointly, “MP Silva”), by partially dismissing bid-rigging fines imposed by the ICA for the assignment of broadcasting rights for football matches in countries other than Italy.[1]
On June 9, 2022 the Paris Court of Appeals partially reversed an FCA prohibition decision following an appeal by wine importer Distillerie Dillon SAS (“Distillerie Dillon”) and its parent companies Bardinet SAS and Compagnie Financière Européenne de Prises de Participation SA (together, the “Appellants”). The FCA decision, issued on October 29, 2020, sanctioned the Appellants as well as several wine producers and importers, including Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte (“CNF”), for participating in an exclusive importation system for champagne in several overseas French territories.
On June 1, 2022, the General Court heard arguments from Meta (previously Facebook) and the Commission in the case relating to Meta’s challenge of a Commission decision dated May 4, 2020, issued in the context of the Commission’s antitrust investigation into Facebook’s data- related practices.[1]
On May 12, 2022, the Commission announced that it will phase out the Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak.
On May 17, 2022, the Italian Competition Authority (the “ICA”) imposed a fine of €3,501,020 on Leadiant Biosciences Ltd. and Essetfin S.p.A. (jointly “Leadiant”) for violating Article 102 TFEU by charging excessive prices for the sale to the Italian National Health System (the Sistema Sanitario Nazionale or “SSN”) of a drug used for the treatment of Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (“CTX”), a rare condition that affects the human body’s ability to metabolize cholesterols.[1]
On May 10, 2022, the ICA accepted and made binding the commitments offered by the parties in an investigation concerning an alleged exchange of information in the direct sales of motor vehicle insurance policies. The alleged exchange took place between Italy’s leading companies offering price-comparison services (the “Comparators”) and 13 insurance companies (the “Insurance Companies”) and intermediaries (the “Intermediaries”; jointly, the “Parties”).[1]
On May 9, 2022, the Council of State delivered three judgments in annulment proceedings brought by the addressees of a 2019 ICA decision, which found 19 companies liable for participating in a cartel aimed at rigging a tender procedure in the facility maintenance sector in Italy (the “Decision”).[1]
Updated on May 10, 2022
The UK Government has published its response to the consultation on a new regulatory regime for digital markets on May 6, 2022.
The Italian Competition Authority (the “ICA”) fined ferry operator Caronte & Tourist (“C&T”) €3.7 million for having charged excessive prices on a ferry transportation route between Sicily and Calabria between 2017 and 2019 (the “Decision”).