December 13, 2024 11:31

The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) has initiated an investigation into a suspected anti-competitive agreement in the production and sale of low-voltage copper cables.
The inquiry targets some of the country’s leading manufacturers: Bruno Baldassari, General Cavi, ICEL, IRCE, La Triveneta Cavi, Mondini Cavi, Pecso Cavi, Prysmian Cavi e Sistemi Italia, and the trade association AICE.

According to AGCM, these companies, with AICE's facilitation, allegedly coordinated pricing practices, aligning list prices and initial distributor discounts since 2005.
Additionally, from late 2008, the association reportedly introduced a unified mechanism to adjust prices based on fluctuations in copper costs.

AGCM officials, supported by the Guardia di Finanza’s Special Antitrust Unit, has conducted inspections at the headquarters of the implicated companies, two multi-brand cable distributors, and the offices of the national association of Electrical Wholesalers (FME).

The investigation was prompted by a leniency application submitted by one of the involved companies, which disclosed details of the alleged cartel in exchange for potential reductions in penalties.

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