Deutsche bank, Rabobank hit with EU antitrust charge over bond cartel

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Deutsche Bank and Rabobank were charged by EU antitrust regulators on Tuesday of taking part in a government bond cartel, the latest move against a sector which has racked up millions of euros in fines for various competition violations.

The European Commission, which can fine companies up to 10% of their global turnover for antitrust violations, said it had sent a charge sheet known as a statement of objections to the banks.

The EU competition watchdog said the two banks coordinated pricing and trading strategies on euro-denominated sovereign, SSA (supra-sovereign, foreign sovereign, sub-sovereign/agency), covered and government guaranteed bonds between 2005-2016.

It said some of their traders communicated mainly through emails and online chatrooms.

"For effective competition to function, it is fundamental that economic operators determine their prices independently. Citizens need to be able to trust that financial institutions do not implement practices that restrict competition in bonds trading markets," EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

Rabobank said it is cooperating with the Commission and declined further comment. Deutsche Bank said it does not expect any sanction, suggesting that it may have alerted the cartel to the authorities.

"Deutsche Bank has proactively cooperated with the European Commission in this matter and as a result has been granted conditional immunity. In accordance with the European Commission’s guidelines, Deutsche Bank does not expect a financial penalty," the German lender said.

The banks can defend themselves at a closed door hearing and in writing before the Commission makes a final decision.

The EU executive has slapped million-euro fines on about a dozen banks in recent years for rigging benchmark indices and taking part in cartels.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee, additional reporting by Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Tom Sims in Frankfurt;)