The Italian Competition Authority (ICA) has fined cardboard box maker Smurfit Kappa Group’s (SKG) Italian subsidiary for engaging in anti-competitive practices.
The ICA has notified the packaging firm of the decision and Smurfit Kappa Italia will pay a €124m fine. This cost will be taken as an exceptional charge in the current year, SKG said.
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It follows a market-wide investigation during which the ICA identified 50 companies that had engaged in anti-competitive practices in Italy.
Smurfit Kappa Italia noted that it fully co-operated with the investigation, which began in early 2017.
In its statement regarding the fine, Smurfit Kappa Group said: “SKG is very disappointed with the decision of the ICA on many levels and will vigorously appeal this decision on both administrative and substantive grounds.
“This process will take a number of years. SKG is committed to the highest standards of conduct in its business and will not tolerate any actions that are inconsistent with its values.”
In a separate case, the ICA has announced that it has imposed a fine of more than €287m on manufacturers in the corrugated cardboard industry.
A DS Smith spokesperson told Packaging Gateway, the company has “fully co-operated with the Italian authorities throughout their investigation and can confirm that we have not been fined in relation to this matter”.
