Italy’s competition authority, the AGCM, has initiated a formal investigation into the Luise Group, suspecting the company may have exploited its dominant position in the superyacht marina sector to benefit its own maritime agency operations in the Gulf of Naples. The inquiry, designated as Case A581, was prompted by a complaint from the Venice-based agency ACQ Italy in June 2025 and officially commenced on June 23, 2026.
The investigation aims to determine if Luise Group’s actions violated Article 3 of Italy’s antitrust law, which prohibits abuse of market dominance. Notably, the opening of proceedings does not imply any wrongdoing, as the involved companies will have the chance to defend themselves. The inquiry encompasses various entities within the Luise Group, including Luise Group S.r.l. and Porto Antico di Stabia S.r.l.
ACQ Italy alleges that from 2022 to 2025, its requests for yacht berths were frequently denied under claims of unavailability, only for those same berths to be offered later to Luise-affiliated companies. Similar complaints have emerged from other agencies facing challenges in securing berths at Porto Antico di Stabia. Additionally, the AGCM is scrutinizing whether commercial information from berth applications was utilized to promote Luise Group’s services.
The investigation raises broader concerns about market concentration, as preliminary findings suggest the Luise Group may control 47% to 51% of large yacht berth capacity in the Gulf of Naples. This scrutiny aligns with increasing regulatory focus across Europe on markets with high entry barriers and concentrated infrastructure control, particularly in sectors like maritime services that significantly impact economic value in nautical tourism.
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