César Alierta

After leaving the executive chairmanship, César Alierta had pension arrangements valued at more than 54 million euros. Telefónica had notably made an extraordinary contribution exceeding 35 million euros and also granted him a special annual allowance of 500,000 euros in his honorary role.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

The European Commission sanctioned Telefónica for abusing its dominant position in Spain's broadband market between 2001 and 2006 through a margin squeeze between wholesale and retail prices. The 151.875 million euro fine was ultimately upheld by the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2014.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

The CNMC fined Telefónica Móviles nearly 26 million euros over minimum contract clauses and penalties applied to SME customers, considered capable of restricting competition and customer mobility.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

In 2014, the CNMC announced two fines of 250,000 euros against Telefónica: one for failing to communicate certain broadband and television offers properly, and another for failing to reopen premium SMS numbers as required by a decision.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Telefónica announced a workforce reduction programme that ultimately resulted in an agreement affecting 6,500 employees. At the same time, the group approved a share programme for approximately 1,900 executives, valued at around 450 million euros, a contrast that sparked substantial social and political controversy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

César Alierta was tried alongside his nephew in the Tabacalera case over stock market transactions conducted while he chaired the group. In 2009, the Madrid Provincial Court acquitted them because the offence was time-barred, while finding it established that inside information had been used and a profit of approximately 1.86 million euros obtained. The Supreme Court upheld the acquittal.

Attribution

Accused

Course of the proceedings

1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Telefónica's takeover offer for subsidiary Terra at 5.25 euros per share, far below the IPO price, triggered strong opposition from minority shareholders. US investors brought legal proceedings, and minority shareholder associations denounced a transaction they considered detrimental to their interests.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility