Poste Italiane faces competition probe

Italian competition regulator Autorita Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (Antitrust) has opened an investigation into possible abuse of a dominant market position by the country’s leading postal services operator, Poste Italiane. The investigation relates to liberalised services and services that are due to be liberalised in the next six years, and covers supply contracts made by Poste Italiane between December 2000 and January 2007. These contracts are thought to have been weighted in the state-owned group’s favour, and to have contained clauses that restricted competition.

Poste Italiane CEO Massimo Sarmi said that he was confident about the outcome of the inquiry, which should be revealed before the end of May next year, because the company had ‘always respected market regulations, competition, and consumer rights’.