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SAP Poised to Offer Concessions in EU Antitrust Probe

By  |  November 6, 2025

SAP, Europe’s largest software company, is preparing to submit a formal package of concessions to the European Commission in an effort to resolve an ongoing antitrust investigation and avoid a potentially substantial fine, according to Reuters. The move comes as EU regulators seek to demonstrate that their competition enforcement extends beyond U.S. tech giants such as Alphabet, Apple, and Meta Platforms, which have faced billions of euros in penalties in recent years.

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    Per Reuters, the Commission launched its probe in September to examine whether SAP’s software practices unfairly restricted competition in the aftermarket for maintenance and support services tied to its on-premise software. Regulators are expected to request input from SAP’s competitors and customers on the proposed remedies in the coming weeks.

    People familiar with the matter told Reuters that the European Commission had already conducted an informal market test several months ago and that SAP’s final offer is likely to be accepted, potentially with minor adjustments. Details of the proposed concessions remain confidential, the sources said.

    The European Commission, which serves as the competition authority for the 27-member bloc, declined to comment on the status of the discussions.

    Read more: Judge Allows Celonis Antitrust Lawsuit Against SAP to Proceed

    SAP has maintained that its business practices comply with EU competition laws and align with industry standards. “In our proposed remedies, we are clarifying how they work as part of our broader commitment to transparency and customer choice,” a company spokesperson said. “We are adhering to the procedure and timeline established by the European Commission and trust they will bring this proceeding to a quick and fair close.”

    According to Reuters, the Commission suspects that SAP may have hindered competition by making it difficult for customers to switch providers for maintenance and support of on-premise software. The EU executive has also raised concerns that SAP prevented clients from terminating support services for unused licenses and imposed reinstatement and back-maintenance fees when customers rejoined after a hiatus.

    One person familiar with the proposed settlement told Reuters that SAP’s planned remedies would address these issues by clarifying its fee structures and allowing greater flexibility for customers to move to competing service providers.

    Source: Reuters