Finance
Swatch and Citizen face Italian scrutiny over pricing practices
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 9, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 9, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Swatch and Citizen are under investigation by Italian authorities for alleged price fixing practices, potentially limiting retail competition.
MILAN, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The Italian competition authority said on Tuesday it had opened two investigations into Swiss watchmaker Swatch and Japan's Citizen Watch.
The probes involve an alleged infringement of European rules on the fixing of retail prices displayed online by the groups' authorised distributors.
The two companies may be limiting price competition among their retailers through a vertical agreement, by imposing retail prices on their distributors and adopting "retaliatory commercial measures" against those that fail to comply, the antitrust authority said in a statement.
The agency's officials carried out inspections at the Italian offices of Swatch and Citizen on December 3.
Swatch and Citizen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro, editing by Gavin Jones)
Retail pricing refers to the final price at which a product is sold to consumers. It is influenced by various factors, including production costs, competition, and market demand.
Compliance in business refers to the process of adhering to laws, regulations, and guidelines relevant to the company's operations. It ensures that businesses operate within legal frameworks.
Competition in retail refers to the rivalry among businesses to attract customers and increase sales. It can drive innovation, improve customer service, and influence pricing strategies.
Pricing practices are strategies used by businesses to set the prices of their products or services. These can include cost-plus pricing, competitive pricing, and value-based pricing.
An investigation in business typically involves a formal inquiry into a company's practices or operations to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, often conducted by regulatory authorities.
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