An Italian appeals court said on Wednesday it had acquitted oil services group Saipem and oil major Eni of alleged corruption charges in Algeria.
The court also acquitted a series of other defendants, including former Eni Chief Executive Paolo Scaroni.
The long-running case revolves around allegations Saipem paid intermediaries about 198 million euros to secure contracts worth 8 billion euros ($9 billion) with Algeria's state-owned Sonatrach.
Saipem is jointly controlled by Eni and state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti. When Scaroni was Eni CEO it was 43 percent owned by the energy major.
($1 = 0.8969 euros)
(Reporting by Emilio Parodi and Alfredo Faieta, writing by Stephen Jewkes, editing by Valentina Za)