Benzinga·2025-10-08 12:07Core Insights - Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc. are nearing a settlement to resolve their antitrust cases with the European Commission, aiming to amend business practices to avoid further fines [1][2][3] Group 1: Settlement Negotiations - The companies are in the final stages of negotiations with European regulators to address various business practices after being fined €700 million ($772 million) in April for violating the EU's Digital Markets Act [2][3] - A settlement would help both companies avoid daily financial penalties that could reach up to 5% of their average global daily revenue [6] Group 2: Regulatory Challenges - European officials are optimistic about reaching a solution with Meta, although initial proposed changes were found inadequate, particularly regarding consumer navigation of Meta's options in the EU [4] - Apple is also negotiating new contractual terms for developers and has expressed intentions to amend its App Store policies [4] Group 3: Historical Context - Apple contested a €500 million ($586 million) fine in July 2025 for alleged anti-competitive practices, labeling it as "unprecedented" [5] - Meta had a more favorable interaction with the Commission in September 2025, receiving approval for a joint venture with India's Reliance Industries Limited focused on enterprise AI services [5] Group 4: Company Performance Metrics - Meta has a higher growth rating of 85.66%, while Apple's growth rating is below 30%, indicating differing performance trajectories [7]