PRESS RELEASE

ANTITRUST AUTHORITY ACCEPTS COMMITMENTS UNDERTAKEN BY GROUPON: NEVER AGAIN ANY INCOMPLETE INFORMATION ON ACTUAL DISCOUNTS, A BLACK LIST FOR UNRELIABLE BUSINESS PARTNERS, GUARANTEED REFUNDS. THE COMPANY WILL ALSO MAKE AVAILABLE TWO CHANNELS FOR ASSISTANCE TO CONSUMERS TO SUBMIT THEIR CLAIMS

Antitrust Authority accepted commitments undertaken by companies forming part of the international group Groupon S.r.l. and concluded the preliminary investigation that was initiated following various reports of alleged unfair trading practices to the detriment of consumers in online sales of coupons used for the purchase of products or services at very favourable prices.

The investigation focused on circulation through the internet site www.groupon.it of misleading commercial information on prices, on essential aspects regarding offers that were advertised and on inadequate client assistance service.

On the strength of commitments, which now become binding, consumers will find on the site www.groupon.it clear and complete information on commercial offers being advertised: those who buy coupons will be given full information about their rights with particular attention to the submission of complaints, to requests for refunds and to client assistance service. Not only this.  Percentage discounts will only be indicated in the context of an item that allows an objective comparison and the advertised price has to include all additional compulsory charges.

Groupon also undertook to increase its monitoring operations on its partners, with greater controls both at the stage prior to the announcement of commercial offers as well as subsequent to the issue of these offers.  With regard to parties that are found to be unreliable, the mechanism to insert these parties on the black list will become stricter, with their consequent exclusion from future promotional campaigns.  Finally two alternative assistance channels will be set up (an e-mail service and a call centre) through which it will be possible to forward complaints and requests for assistance that will be followed up and managed according to procedures and timeframes that are clear and set in advance.

Within a period of sixty days of the communication of the decision, the companies that form part of the group must declare that the commitments have been implemented. Antitrust Authority will monitor the implementation of the agreed measures while reserving the right to re-open proceedings ex ufficio if these companies fail to comply with their commitments.

Rome, 12 September 2014