Recommended actions

• In this type of proceedings it is normal for the antitrust authority to request information from companies offering products and services related to the market under investigation. In the event of receiving a request for information from the antitrust authority, it is essential to respond to such request, otherwise, the defaulting company will be subject to a fine.
• In some cases, the antitrust authority considers it pertinent to subpoena individuals who are presumed to have knowledge of wrongdoings in the market under investigation, e.g., technical personnel or managers of companies that offer products and services related to the market under investigation. 
• The Mexican antitrust authority is empowered to conduct dawn raids (on-site unannounced visits at the company's offices, through which they may request information and/or photocopy documents/files related to the market under investigation). Obstruction or failure to comply with a dawn raid may result in fines and/or criminal penalties.
• In case of receiving a subpoena, a request for information, or if your company has experienced a dawn raid, it is recommended to consult with an attorney specializing in antitrust & competition matters. 

Background 

• The market under investigation includes products offered to a user (cardholder) by a financial institution through which they can make payments for products and services using a line of credit. Payments for such purchases can be made on the next credit card cut-off date, or payments can be deferred to interest-free months (usually 6, 12, 18 or 24 months).
• Absolute monopolistic practices are anti-competitive agreements, contracts or arrangements between competing economic agents, whose object or effect is the manipulation of prices, market segmentation, bid rigging and/or establishing mechanisms to restrict the supply in the investigated market. Please note that the exchange of sensitive business information between competing economic agents that could cause any of the above mentioned conducts also qualifies as an absolute monopolistic practice.
• If the existence of an absolute monopolistic practice is proven, the responsible economic agents could be fined up to 10% of their annual revenues in Mexico. Additionally,  those individuals who directly participated and/or contributed to such illegal conduct may be subject up to 10 years of imprisonment.
• The investigation should not be understood as a prejudgment, but as an action by the authority to verify compliance with the Federal Mexican Antitrust Law.
• This antitrust investigation was initiated on 29 April 2022. The inquiry period, of 120 business days,  shall be counted as of the date in which the investigation period begun. Each period has 120 business days, which may be extended for the same period up to four times.

Comments

• On 26 October 2022, COFECE reaffirmed its commitment during Competition Day, and in its Strategic Plan for 2022-2025, to keep the financial market as a key priority sector for the competition authority.   
• The financial sector is a priority matter, given that the offered services are essential to carry out  multiple economic activities, such as purchases with credit cards with interest-free months. In addition, this sector generates a significant percentage of the country's Gross Domestic Product, while digital financial services can have an impact on the financial inclusion of Mexicans and facilitate access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), in 2021 the financial sector generated 3.8% of the country's Gross Domestic Product and 67.8% of the population was a user of some type of financial service.