The Italian Competition Authority (“ICA”) started an investigation into the CVC group’s acquisition of control over La Gardenia and Limoni; Douglas belongs to said group. This EU sized merger was notified to the ICA following a postponement request submitted by the parties to the European Commission.
Douglas and Limoni and La Gardenia deal mainly in the retail sale of cosmetic products and luxury fragrances, marketed through selective distribution systems, and are the main nationwide perfume chains.
The overlapping of the parties' business activities was found to reach significant thresholds in a series of local markets of selective retail distribution of cosmetics and luxury fragrances. Therefore, the preliminary investigation is aimed at verifying whether in such markets the said merger is likely to affect competitive dynamics in substantial and durable manner, leading to the establishment or strengthening of dominant positions.
The deadline for the preliminary investigation is within forty-five days starting from 8 November 2017.

Rome, 13 November 2017