The Chinese SAIC fines three payment encryption device suppliers for market partitioning (Sunyard System Engineering / Sinosun Technology / Shanghai Haijiye Technology)

Chinese payment encryption device suppliers fined for participation in government-orchestrated cartel* On 4 November 2016, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce (“SAIC“) – one of China’s antitrust authorities – published on its website three decisions, whereby three payment encryption device suppliers were fined by SAIC’s branch in Anhui Province (“Anhui AIC“). Payment encryption devices are used by bank customers to protect the security of payments from their bank accounts. These devices are typically distributed by the banks to their customers. The Anhui AIC considered the companies’ conduct to amount to market partitioning, prohibited under Article 13 of the Anti-Monopoly Law (“AML“). Interestingly, the market partitioning was orchestrated by the local branch in Anhui