Harsh sting by the Antitrust Authority on 10 steel producers, almost all from Brescia (except Riva), for a total of 143 million euros after ascertaining an agreement restricting competition on the prices of rods for reinforced concrete and electro-welded mesh. The provision concerns, to different extents, Alfa Acciai SpA, Feralpi Siderurgica SpA, Ferriera Valsabbia SpA; Industrie Riunite Odolesi IROSpA, ORI Martin – Steelworks and Ferriera SpA, Stefana SpA, Riva Acciaio SpA, Ferriere Nord SpA, Fin.Fer. SpA, and was published in the Authority's weekly bulletin.
In defining the final penalty, the report published in the Bulletin states, the Antitrust decided to "adapt the final penalty calculated so far to take into account the dramatic crisis in the steel sector generated, with particular reference to the products subject to the investigation, by that of the construction sector" and therefore decided to reduce "by 50% the sanction that can actually be imposed on all the Parties, with the exception of Stefana", which had ceased production before the formal start of the investigation and for which the sanction was reduced by 90%. Administrative sanctions must be paid within 90 days of notification of the provision and an appeal against this decision can be filed with the Lazio Regional Administrative Court within 60 days of notification.
