Competition Council investigates 25 banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions and leasing companies suspected of anti-competitive practices

The Competition Council has conducted unannounced inspections at the offices of 25 banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions (IFN), leasing companies, professional associations and employers’ associations in the field of financial services, being one of the most extensive actions of the institution.

The inspections were carried out in the framework of two investigations launched by the Competition Council on the operational leasing market and on the financial leasing and consumer credit market in Romania, capital.ro informs.

Simultaneous inspections were carried out at Bancpost SA, Unicredit Bank SA, Raiffeisen Bank SA, Banca Comercială Română SA, BCR Leasing IFN SA, BRD Sogelease IFN SA, Raiffeisen Leasing IFN SA, Unicredit Leasing Corporation IFN SA, Viva Credit IFN SA, ALD Automotive SRL, Arval Service Lease Romania S.R.L., Autotechnica Fleet Services S.R.L., BCR Fleet Management S.R.L., BT Operational Leasing S.A., Leaseplan Romania S.R.L., Porsche Mobility S.R.L., Unicredit Leasing Fleet Management S.R.L.,  Finmedia S.R.L., the Association of Operational Leasing Companies (ASLO), the Romanian Banking Council (CPBR), the Romanian Financial Services Association (ALB), the Federation of Financial Services Employers in Romania, the Romanian Leasing and Credit Employers and the IFN Credit Employers.

One of the investigations concerns the possible exchange of commercially sensitive information between competing companies on the financial leasing market and consumer credit. The investigated parties are: the Employers Banking Council in Romania, the Romanian Financial Services Association (ALB), the Romanian Leasing and Credit Employers (PLCR), the IFN Loans Employers (PCIFN) and all member companies of these organizations, and Diplomat Consult SRL.

“We are constantly monitoring this market and we have prepared the investigation for a long time and an important role was played by the information provided by one of the investigated parties, which applied to the clemency programme in August,” said Bogdan Chiriţoiu, the Competition Council President.

The second investigation also concerns the possible coordination of commercial policies by price fixing and/or market sharing achieved through the exchange of sensitive information between competing companies operational on the market of operating leasing and related services in Romania.