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Italy Seizes €1.29 Billion in Campari Shares in Probe of Lagfin Exit-Tax Bill

Prosecutors say a 2018 cross-border merger left €5.3 billion in gains untaxed under exit-tax rules.

Overview

  • A Monza judge authorized the preventive seizure, which the financial police executed by freezing ordinary shares held by Lagfin for €1,291,758,703.34.
  • The block covers about 13% of Campari’s capital and secures a potential claim equal to the tax assessed by the Italian revenue agency.
  • Investigators are examining suspected fraudulent declaration and corporate administrative liability, with Chairman Luca Garavoglia and executive Giovanni Berto under investigation.
  • Authorities trace the case to Lagfin’s 2018 merger that absorbed its Italian unit holding Campari’s majority stake, with alleged undeclared capital gains exceeding €5.3 billion.
  • Lagfin, a Luxembourg-based holding that controls over half of Campari shares and most voting rights, says this is a two-year tax dispute that does not involve Campari’s operations.