The Autorité fines Cofepp for acquiring control of MBWS without prior notification of the transaction and without waiting for its decision

The Autorité de la concurrence has fined Cofepp (Poliakov, Label 5, Cruz, Saint James, Old Nick, etc.) for acquiring control of Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits (Marie Brizard, San José, William Peel, etc.) before notifying the Autorité of the transaction and without waiting for its clearance decision.

In the present case, before requesting and obtaining the required clearance, Cofepp exercised a decisive influence on MBWS, in particular by appointing its new CEO, negotiating with its suppliers in place of MBWS's managers, directly participating in the establishment of MBWS's commercial and budgetary policy and intervening in several operational management decisions.

Cofepp, which did not contest the practices, benefitted from a settlement procedure. The Autorité handed down a 7 million euros fine.