Several of Europe’s ski manufacturers have been raided by the European Commission, which suspects cartel activity within the industry — that is, anti-competitive collaboration between producers. The companies deny any wrongdoing.

The first company to be raided was Blizzard, but shortly afterward, Fischer and Atomic in Austria also received visits, according to oe24.at. Reports from Oberösterreichische Nachrichten and Salzburger Nachrichten confirm that both companies have acknowledged an ongoing EU cartel investigation.

The European Commission announced last Monday that it is investigating several companies in the ski equipment sector for suspected anti-competitive practices. National competition authorities accompanied EU investigators.

The companies involved — Blizzard (Tecnica Group), Fischer Sports, and Atomic — all stated that they have always acted in accordance with the law and will fully cooperate with the authorities.

So far, no conclusions have been reached in the investigation, and the EU emphasizes that these raids do not imply any admission of guilt. The investigation coincided with the Alpine Ski World Cup opening in Sölden.

Blizzard, part of the Tecnica Group, said it is “convinced that it has always acted in full compliance with applicable laws” and has offered its full and immediate cooperation with the authorities.

Fischer also confirmed that an investigation by the EU Commission is currently underway, according to OÖN and SN. The company, which has a factory in Ried im Innkreis, stated that it will “fully cooperate with the authorities.”

Atomic, headquartered in Altenmarkt, likewise confirmed that it is “subject to an investigation,” according to OÖN.

In a statement, the European Commission reiterated that such inspections do not mean that the companies have been found guilty of anti-competitive behavior, nor do they prejudge the outcome of the investigation. Officials from national competition authorities accompanied EU investigators.

According to its own information, the EU has placed several ski industry companies under scrutiny since Monday, though no names or locations have been officially disclosed.

It is also a challenging economic period for the ski industry. Many manufacturers are reducing their sponsorship agreements with top athletes, and numerous skiers are struggling to secure contracts and equipment, according to Langrenn.com.

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