Madrid Audiencia clears former Digitex (now part of Konecta) of unfair competition claims brought by Abai, overturning a prior conviction tied to its 2016 acquisition by Italian firm Comdata
Executive summary: The Madrid Audiencia acquitted the former Digitex business, now part of Konecta, of unfair competition charges brought by Abai, overturning a prior first-instance conviction related to the company’s 2016 acquisition by Italy’s Comdata. The ruling eliminates a potential legal and financial liability for Konecta tied to historical M&A integration, reinforcing confidence in the legitimacy of its operational structure post-acquisition.
Who is involved: Konecta (parent), former Digitex entity (defendant), Abai (claimant), Comdata (acquirer in 2016), Madrid Audiencia (judicial body).
Likely next: Abai may appeal the decision to a higher Spanish court; Konecta will likely continue integrating Digitex operations without the burden of ongoing litigation over this matter.
The Madrid Audiencia’s acquittal of the former Digitex entity, now integrated into Konecta, reverses a first-instance ruling that had found the company liable for unfair competition in litigation linked to its 2016 acquisition by Comdata. The decision removes a legal cloud over Konecta’s integration of Digitex and may reduce contingent liabilities tied to the historical transaction. While Abai’s claims have been dismissed at this stage, the case highlights ongoing scrutiny of post-acquisition conduct in the business process outsourcing sector. The ruling is final unless appealed, offering legal clarity for Konecta moving forward.
Timeline
- — Konecta sortea una demanda de Abai por competencia desleal (Expansión)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Abai must file appeal by October 13, 2026, to contest the Madrid Audiencia ruling
- Konecta to report Q3 2026 earnings in November, potentially reflecting reduced legal reserve needs
Sectors affected
- Business process outsourcing (BPO)
- Customer experience management
- Corporate legal risk management
Regulatory implications
- Spanish civil procedure allows appeal within two months; no regulatory body involved in this commercial dispute
- No new regulations triggered; case resolved under existing unfair competition law (Ley de Competencia Desleal)
Historical parallels
- Telefónica acquitted of unfair competition by rivals in 2018 over similar post-M&A integration claims (National Court, Spain)
- Indra cleared of anti-competitive practices in 2020 related to public contract bidding after acquisition integration (CNMC)