Prosecutors in Milan have requested that Luca Garavoglia, the chairman of beverage company Campari Group, be indicted in an investigation concerning alleged tax evasion, according to sources familiar with the proceedings. The request for a trial centers on allegations involving approximately €1.29 billion ($1.45 billion).
The investigation, led by Milan’s public prosecutor’s office, focuses on the 2015 transfer of the controlling stake in Lagfin S.C.A., the holding company that controls Campari Group. The stake was moved from Italy to Luxembourg. According to the prosecutors’ case, the relocation was allegedly executed to avoid paying Italian capital gains taxes.
Legal representatives for Garavoglia have consistently denied any wrongdoing. They have previously stated that the transfer was part of a legitimate business reorganization and was conducted with full transparency to the relevant tax authorities. In past statements, his lawyers have maintained that the actions were lawful and not intended to evade taxes.
Campari Group has also clarified its position, noting that the company itself is not a subject of the investigation. The inquiry is focused on Garavoglia in his capacity as a shareholder of the family’s holding company.
“With reference to the investigation by the Milan Public Prosecutor’s Office, Campari Group reiterates that the investigation does not involve the company but one of its main shareholders for acts not related to the management and/or business activities of the Group,” the company stated in a previous release.
The next step in the Italian legal process involves a preliminary hearing. A judge will review the evidence and the request submitted by the prosecutors. The judge will then decide whether to formally indict Garavoglia and proceed with a trial or to dismiss the case.
Campari Group, founded in 1860, is a major global player in the branded beverage industry. Its portfolio includes over 50 brands, such as Aperol, Campari, Grand Marnier, and Wild Turkey. Luca Garavoglia has served as the company’s chairman since 1994.
