PRESS RELEASE

FINE OF €300,000 TO EXPO GUIDE FOR NON-COMPLIANCE AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

A fine of €300,000 was imposed by the Italian Antitrust Authority on the company Expo Guide for non-compliance with a previous decision of 5 February 2014 by means of which the Authority, after having issued precautionary measures, had ascertained a number of unfair trade practices. These practices consisted in the unilateral pre-registration of essential data regarding micro-enterprises to promote subscription to an unsolicited service of online publicity against the payment of a fee. Furthermore, according to the Antitrust Authority, the company with its registered office in Mexico obstructed the exercise of the right of withdrawal by users and asked for payment of subscription fees by means of “aggressive methods”, either directly or through a debt collection company.

In the light of several reports received between July 2014 and February 2015, it emerged that Expo Guide – contrary to what had been stated throughout earlier proceedings – had not stopped sending payment reminders and proposals regarding settlement to the small and medium-sized enterprises that were involved. From documents to deeds, there are also indications that these communications were frequently “characterized by even more insistent tones”. In view of this, the administrative fine is to be paid within a period of 30 days from notification of this measure.

Rome, 27 July 2015