Antitrust: Collaboration between companies and cartels

Antitrust: Collaboration between companies and cartels

Antitrust: First exemption for companies cooperating in the uncovering of cartels. The Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato) has applied for the first time Article 15, paragraph 2-bis, of Law No. 287/90, introduced by Law No. 248/2006 (the so-called Bersani-Visco Law). The Antitrust Authority had provided its own operational guidelines in its Order of February 19, 2007, establishing a leniency program for companies intending to cooperate with the Antitrust Authority. This program provides useful guidance for identifying the most serious antitrust agreements, in exchange for discounts or total exemption from fines. (Italian Competition Authority, Order of May 17, 2007).