Twenty-two international shipping companies were caught carteling. Over the course of more than five years, thanks also to the active role played by the Fedespedi trade federation, some company representatives have met in at least 20 meetings to agree on price increases. The Antitrust sanctions were differentiated according to the role played and the period of participation in the agreement. An exemplary punishment: over 76 million euros in fines distributed among 19 companies. It will not have to pay Schenker, controlled by Deutsche Bahn Ag, which helped identify the cartel and applied for leniency.
Participants in the agreement from March 2002 to autumn 2007 were Agility, Albini & Pitigliani, Alpi Padana, Brigl, Cargo Nord, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Express, Francesco Parisi, Gefco, Geodis Wilson, I-Dika, Italmondo , Italsempione, Itk Zardini, ITX Cargo, Rhenus, Saima, Schenker, Sittam, Spedipra, Villanova and Armando Vidale. In the cases of two other companies, Alpi Padana and Spedipra, the statute of limitations has intervened. The Authority revealed very high price increases: almost 50% between March 2002 and December 2006. In Agility and DHL, which confirmed and strengthened the evidence provided by Schenker, the Authority acknowledged a reduction fine of 50% and 49% respectively. For the collaboration provided, 10% discount also for Sittam.
“The clemency program launched by the Italian Antitrust demonstrates that anti-competitive cartels can be defeated – said Antonio Catricalà, president of the Antitrust -. It's good for competition, even for companies that decide to cooperate. The benefits to companies that denounce the agreements, bringing concrete evidence to the Authority, are bearing fruit. In the case relating to shippers, we accepted the four clemency applications presented, obviously taking into account the timing and their probative value. Overall, the companies that have collaborated with the Antitrust have saved around 40 million euros in terms of no fines: alone, the company that had the total exemption would have risked a fine of around 31 million”.
