Nvidia Takes EU Antitrust Regulators to Court for Probing AI Startup Run:ai Bid
Nvidia has filed a lawsuit against the European Union's antitrust regulators, claiming that they incorrectly accepted an Italian request to scrutinize its acquisition of AI startup Run:ai. The case centers around a 2022 request from Italy's Autorità Garante della Concorrenza (AGCM) for regulatory review of Nvidia's purchase of Run:ai, which fell below the EU's merger revenue threshold. This ruling contravenes a landmark decision made by Europe's highest court last year, which stipulated that national enforcers cannot refer deals to the European Commission without specific powers.
- The outcome of this case highlights the tension between regulatory bodies' discretion and the need for clarity in antitrust enforcement, raising questions about how EU regulators should handle referrals from national authorities.
- Will this ruling lead to a broader shift in the way small mergers are handled by EU regulators, potentially limiting their ability to scrutinize transactions that don't pose significant competitive concerns?