AGCM

According to the Authority, from 2012 to 2022 the companies agreed on retail prices for petrol and diesel by means of weekly e-mail communications 

The Italian Competition Authority fined for a total amount exceeding 4 million euro (4,287,186.97) the companies Cus.Car. S.r.l., Fibo S.r.l., Ges.Car. S.r.l. di Cusini Bernardo & C., Tre.Car. S.r.l., CU.BA. S.r.l., Global Service S.r.l., Bondi Carburanti di Bormolini Luigi S.r.l. and Silroc S.r.l.

In fact, the Authority ascertained the existence - in the period 2012-2022 - of an anti-competitive agreement between the distribution companies of motor fuels (diesel and petrol) operating in the municipality of Livigno, in the province of Sondrio. According to the AGCM, the cartel was implemented by means of weekly e-mail communications with detailed indications of future prices to be applied in retail petrol stations. These e-mails were sent by an individual to a list, visible to all recipients, containing the addresses of the companies in question.

For this investigation, which arose from previous investigations carried out by the Guardia di Finanza, the Authority relied on a wealth of evidence showing the systematic sending of e-mails by the sender to fuel distribution companies and the correspondence between the prices contained in the communications and those actually charged by distributors.

According to the Italian Competition Authority, the cartel eliminated the competitive confrontation between the parties and irreparably compromised the physiological competitive game to the detriment of consumers.

Rome, 4 July 2023