Tuesday, June 21st 2022

Intel Wants $625 Million in Interest From the EU After Overturned Antitrust Fine

Back in January, Intel overturned an antitrust ruling by the EU and didn't have to pay the $1.2 billion fine, but it seems like the company isn't satisfied with getting out of having to pay a huge fine, but is now asking the EU to compensate the company for interest lost. As such, Intel has filed for "payment of compensation and consequential interest for the damage sustained because of the European Commissions refusal to pay Intel default interest" with the EU General Court. The sum of money Intel is asking for is based on the European Central Bank's refinancing rate and as the original fine was levied back in 2009, Intel claims they're owed more than half of the value of the fine.

Intel is also expecting further interest on the money, if the payment is late from the EU. It should be noted that the European Commission has already paid Intel €38 million in interest on the fine that was paid back in 2009, but Intel is clearly not happy and is asking for a much greater sum. However, the battle between the European Commission and Intel isn't over, as the Commission is working on appealing the ruling, so depending on the outcome of that appeal, Intel might have to pay back the fine to the EU. For those that don't remember the original reason for the antitrust fine, Intel was accused of giving rebates to certain partners and system integrators to make sure they didn't use AMD products in their systems, among other things.
Sources: Intel Court Filing (PDF), via The Register
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36 Comments on Intel Wants $625 Million in Interest From the EU After Overturned Antitrust Fine

#26
lexluthermiester
DeathtoGnomesIntel must be hurting for cash to pull such crap like this. Intel being a crybaby here.
I wouldn't go that far. SOP for companies as big as Intel. Win an appeal/case, try to recover costs. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
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#27
64K
DeathtoGnomesIntel must be hurting for cash to pull such crap like this. Intel being a crybaby here.
Intel is swimming in cash. They don't need that 625 million dollars.

2021 Revenue 79 billion USD

2021 Profit 20 billion USD
Posted on Reply
#29
R-T-B
AusWolfThe laws in Europe? Work? Sorry, that made me laugh. :roll:

The problem is, there's way too many of them, they're way too restrictive of one's personal freedom, thus they create obscurity and controversy instead of order.
Sounds more like an imagined problem frankly.
Posted on Reply
#30
R0H1T
londisteIntel did pay it. And EC has now paid it back.
Intel "deposited" the fine & then contested the ruling. This is normal for such types of cases.
Posted on Reply
#31
DeathtoGnomes
lexluthermiesterI wouldn't go that far. SOP for companies as big as Intel. Win an appeal/case, try to recover costs. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Yea but I expect Intel is gonna lose their ass on the dGPU front, so they maybe did this for losses there.
64KIntel is swimming in cash. They don't need that 625 million dollars.

2021 Revenue 79 billion USD

2021 Profit 20 billion USD
I didnt read the Intel yearly report, but revenue and profit do not always mean there is cash on hand, call it petty cash even, i agree they dont need the $625m but their front pockets might be empty.
Posted on Reply
#32
Why_Me
R0H1TIntel "deposited" the fine & then contested the ruling. This is normal for such types of cases.
This ^^ .. but some people on this thread don't get it.
Posted on Reply
#33
londiste
R0H1TIntel "deposited" the fine & then contested the ruling. This is normal for such types of cases.
True. But so is asking interest to be paid on the money stuck in deposit.
Posted on Reply
#34
lexluthermiester
UpgrayeddGelsinger
Ah ok.. The "Patty" threw me off..
DeathtoGnomesYea but I expect Intel is gonna lose their ass on the dGPU front
That's possible but I think they have something worth betting on, even if it doesn't hit the same heights as the high end NVidia and AMD offerings. It'll take them time to get up to full speed. However...
DeathtoGnomesso they maybe did this for losses there.
...I don't believe these two situations are related.
Posted on Reply
#35
AusWolf
lexluthermiesterThat's possible but I think they have something worth betting on, eveny if it doesn't hit the same heights as the high end NVidia and AMD offerings. It'll take them time to get up to full speed.
As far as I know, Intel, AMD and Nvidia usually work 2-3 generations ahead. Intel already has not only the Alchemist, but also Battlemage and God knows what lines planned. I wouldn't be surprised if the first generation was only a test to iron out any teething issues, kind of the same way first generation RDNA was for AMD. Nobody likes the 5700 XT for what it is, but everybody loves it for paving the way for the 6000 series.
Posted on Reply
#36
DeathtoGnomes
lexluthermiesterAh ok.. The "Patty" threw me off..


That's possible but I think they have something worth betting on, even if it doesn't hit the same heights as the high end NVidia and AMD offerings. It'll take them time to get up to full speed. However...

...I don't believe these two situations are related.
From this chair, it may look like they are not, but without actually looking at the books, if the lawsuit is successful, we left with speculation as to why they need it other than to please shareholders.
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