European Commission closes Alcogroup antitrust investigation

In Belgium, the European Commission has decided to close its antitrust investigation into Alcogroup S.A. and its subsidiary Alcodis S.A for their alleged participation in a cartel concerning the wholesale price formation mechanism for ethanol in Europe.

On July 7, 2022, the Commission informed Alcogroup as well as Lantmännen ek för and its subsidiary Lantmännen Agroetanol AB (together ‘Agroetanol’) of its preliminary view that, together with Abengoa S.A. that settled the case in December 2021, they had breached EU antitrust rules.

Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, the Commission has concluded that there is insufficient ground to further pursue the investigation against Alcogroup and has therefore decided to close its investigation against the company. The investigation as regards Agroetanol is still ongoing.

The closure of the investigation is not a finding that the conduct in question complies with EU competition rules.