ASSITALIA-UNIPOL/BOLOGNA LOCAL HEALTH UNIT (Start of the investigation)
PRESS RELEASE
The Italian Competition Authority initiated an investigation against the insurance companies Assitalia and Unipol, in order to ascertain the existence of an agreement between the two parties, aimed at reducing competition with regard to the supply of insurance services to local authorities.
The inquiry originated from a previous case examined by the Authority (see Municipality of Milan's insurance coverage of July 10th, 1997).
Following Tax-Police inspections, it was found that numerous tender reports given by the Bologna local health unit on the occasion of the public procurements of insurance services contained such a statement: “Unipol has made known the existing verbal agreement with Ina Assitalia, pursuant which all the contracts signed with local authorities are equally shared between the two parties, if and when they would be awarded. At the same time, the two companies are willing to join other firms in co-insurance regime”.
There was also evidence that, over the period 1992-1996, the Bologna local health unit had contracted out the risks insurance coverage to Unipol, as delegatee in a co-insurance relationship in which Assitalia is always present.
The investigation is to be concluded by May 31st, 1998.